



























THE 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN: 


A COMPLETE GUIDE 


FOR THE 



AND THE 


TREATMENT OF THE SICK 


WITHOUT MEDICINE. 

ITT POUB PARTS. 


BY M. G. KELLOGG, M. D. 



PUBLISHED AT / 

THE OFFICE 0 F T II E HEALTH REFORMER, 
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. 


1 873 . 






• 3< 2-'! I 


Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by 
THE HEALTH REFORM INSTITUTE, BATTLE CREEK, MICH., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 

7 O / * 








PEEFACE. 


There is probably no subject concerning which the ma¬ 
jority of mankind give so little thought while in health, or 
which causes them such deep solicitude when either them¬ 
selves or their friends are sick, as that which relates to the 
treatment of disease. The reason why this is the case is ob¬ 
vious. When both ourselves and our friends are in health, 
we have no special inducement to give the matter of treating 
the sick a thought; and when either they or ourselves are 
sick, if we do not know how to treat the patient, we can but 
feel solicitous lest what we are doing may not be the best 
thing that could be done. The old adage which says, “ In 
time of peace, prepare for war,” contains a principle appli¬ 
cable to the subject under consideration. It might be stated 
thus: In time of health, prepare for disease. It would be 
far better, however, if, when in health, we could and would 
so live as to be able to retain health throughout the entire 
period of life—until worn out with old age. 

Were we fully acquainted with the laws of life and health, 
there can be no doubt that, by conforming to those laws to 
the extent of our power, we might escape many of the ills to 
which flesh is supposed to be heir, yet even then we should 
still be liable to sickness and death, because of circumstances 
over which we have no control. But all are not acquainted 
with the laws of health. In fact, there are very few that 
have any just conception of what is necessary to the contin¬ 
uation of health, therefore, all are more or less liable to be 
prostrated with disease. This being the case, it is highly 
important that every person should acquaint himself with 
the laws of his being, and learn just the conditions requisite 
to health, and the proper method of treatment to pursue to 

(3) 



IV 


PREFACE. 


restore those conditions should any of them ever become 
wanting, as in disease. 

The design of the writer of the following pages has been to 
place within the reach of all a general outline of the laws of 
health, and of the conditions requisite thereto, and also such 
information as shall enable them to understand just what to 
do for those who are sick. If thi3 little work shall be the 
means of enlightening the reader upon the subjects concern¬ 
ing which it treats, and of helping him to prolong his life, or 
to improve his health, it will have accomplished its mission. 

In concluding this introduction, the writer would acknowl¬ 
edge that, while some of the ideas advocated in the following 
pages may be new, and peculiar to himself, yet he is indebted 
for most of them to the teachings and writings of such men as 
Trail, Graham, Shew, Alcott, Bell, Pavy, Brinton, Chambers, 
Inman, Dalton, Gould, Bennet, Tanner, and others. He would 
also state that it has been his aim to present his ideas in the 
clearest language possible ; therefore, whenever he has found 
ideas which he wished to present in this work stated by 
ethers in a clearer manner than he could well express them, 
he has in such instances used the language of some of the 
above-mentioned authors, although no mention is made of 
the authors whose language is thus used. 

He would also state that, while he has endeavored to pre¬ 
sent facts to the reader, and to point out the results of cer¬ 
tain habits of life, cr of certain modes of treating disease, 
lie has, at the same time, endeavored to show the reason 
why these results may be expected. In that part of the 
work giving directions for treating the sick, he has been 
governed, first, by the general principles on which the sys¬ 
tem of hygienic medication is based, and, secondly, by the 
experience, not only of himself, but also of the most expe¬ 
rienced hygienic physicians in the land. 

M. G. K. 

Battle Cueeic, Mich., Nov. 1, 1S73. 


CONTENTS 


X. 


PAGE. 

Health and Hygienic 


Agents,. 5 

Air,. G 

Light,. 8 

Water,. 11 

Hood, . 15 

Number of Meals,. 17 

The Kind of Food,. 18 

Fats and Oils,. 21 

Manner of Eating,. 22 

Foo*d for Infants, . 22 

Food for Adults,. 26 

Hot Drinks,. 27 


Page 


Temperature,. 28 

Clothing,. Si 

Exercise, . 34- 

Rest, . 36 

Taking Exercise and Rest, 37 

Sleep,. 38 

Beds and Bedding, . 41 

Bodily Habits,. 42 

Bodily Positions,. 43 

Mental and Social Influence, 44 

Moral Influences,. 46 

External Relations,. 53 

Conclusion, . 55 


3? _A. 31 X 1 IX. 


Page. 


Page, 


Nature of Disease, . 57 Quotations from Medical 

Action of Drugs, . 57 Authors. 98 

How to Treat Disease, .... 66 


3? _A_ IR, I 1 III. 


Page. 


The Bath, . 115 

General Principles,. 115 


Hot and Cold Applications, 122 
Heat and Cold to the Spine, 124 
General Rules for Bathing, 127 
Temperature of Baths, .... 130 
Baths for Infants and Chil¬ 
dren, . 132 

Sponge or Hand-Bath, .... 132 

The Full-Bath,.. 134 

The Half-Bath,. 136 

The Shallow-Bath,. 137 

The Hip or Sitz-Bath,. 139 


Page. 


The Foot-Bath,.. 142 

The Shower-Bath, . 143 

The Spray-Bath,. 144 

Dripping-Sheet-Bath,. 145 

The Wet-Sheet-Rub,. 147 

The Dry-Sheet-Rub, . 147 

The Douche-Bath, . 149 

The Cataract-Douche,.149 

The Pail-Douche,. 149 

The Hose-Douche,. 149 

The Ascending-Douche, ... 151 

The Drop-Bath,. 152 

The Plunge-Bath,.152 


( 5 ) 


















































VI 


CONTENTS 


Part III. —Continued. 


Page. 


The Wet-Sheet-Pack,. 153 

The Dry-Pack, . 157 

The Half-Pack,. 157 

The Leg-Pack,.158 

The Chest-Pack,. 158 

The Chest-Wrapper,. 159 

The Wet-Girdle,. 160 

The Wet-Compress,.162 

The Wet-Head-Cap, . 162 

Fomentations,. 163 

The Head-Bath, . 166 

The Arm-Bath,. 168 

The Leg-Bath,. 168 

The Eye and Ear-Bath,-169 

The Nasal-Bath,. 169 

The Electric-Bath,. 170 

Refrigerations,. 170 

Water Drinking, . 172 

Water Emetics,. 173 


Page. 


Clysters or Enemas,. 173 

The Hot-Air-Bath, ........ 174 

The Vapor-Bath, . 175 

The Cool-Air-Bath, . 176 

The Sun-Bath,. 177 

Hand-ltubbing,. 178 

Swedish Movements, . 179 

The Turkish-Bath,. 181 

The Sand-Bath,. 182 

The Mud-Bath, . 183 

The Animal-Bath, . 183 

The Oil-Bath,. 183 

The Indian Sweat House, . 184 

Mineral Springs,. 185 

Medicated-Batns,. 188 

Diet for the Sick,. 191 

General Rules for Nursing 
the Sick, .. 195 


X 3 _A_ IR, T X ~V . 


Page. 


Page. 


Diseases and tiieir Treat¬ 
ment, . 

General Propositions,. 

Important Internal Organs, 
their Location and Func¬ 
tions, . 

Causes of Disease,. 

The Diagnosis of Disease, 
General Rules for deter¬ 
mining Disease,. 

The Language of Health, 
The Language of Disease, 
How to Locate a Disease, .. 
The Names of Diseases, ... 
Classification of Diseases, . 

General Diseases,. 

Morbid conditions of the 

Blood, . 

Anaemia—Pover ty of Blood, 
Chlorosis, or Green Sick¬ 
ness, . 

Plethora, or Fullness of 

Blood, . 

Hemorrhage,. 

Bkeding at the Nose,. 


197 

197 


201 

210 

212 


213 

213 

215 

217 

217 

219 

219 

220 
220 
220 


223 

224 
226 
229 


Bleeding from the Lungs, . 230 


Bleeding from the Stomach, 231 
Bleeding from the Kidneys 
and Urinary Passages, .. 232 
Bleeding from the Rectum, 232 

Uterine Hemorrhage,. 232 

Congestions, . 233- 

Inflammations, . 235 

Rationale of Inflammation, 238 
Varieties of Inflammation, 239 
General Treatment of In¬ 
flammation, . 240 

Drops} r ,. 241 

Scrofula,. 247 

Cancer,. 244 

Rickets,. 249 

Obesity or Corpulency, .... 250 

Gout,.*. 251 

Rheumatism, .252 

Acute Rheumatism,. 252 

Chronic Rheumatism,.254 

Fevers, . 254 

Classification of Fevers, ... 254 
General Causes of Fevers, 259 
General Treatment of 































































CONTENTS. 


Yll 


Part IA r . —Continuer. 


Page. 


Fever, . 260 

Simple Fever of the Con¬ 
tinued Type, . 263 

Simple Fever of the Inter¬ 
mittent Type, .... .. 265 

Congestive Chills, .2 68 

Nervous or Typhoid Fever, 268 
Putrid or Typhus Fever, .. 270 

Symptomatic Fever,. 271 

Brain Fever or Cerebro— 

Spinal—Meuinigtis,. 272 

Small-Pox, . 275 

Vaccination, . 280 

Chicken-Pox,. 281 

Measles. 2.U 

Scarlet Fever,. 283 

Erysipelas, . 286 

Neuralgia,. 287 

Local Diseases, . 288 

Inflammation of the Brain, 289 
Congestion of the Brain, .. 290 
Dropsy cf the Head—Hy¬ 
drocephalus, .291 

Apoplexy,. 292 

Sun-Stroke, . 293 

Insanity,. 294 

Headache,. 295 

Veitigo, or Dizziness, _ 296 

Acute Inflammation of the 

Ear. 296 

Chronic Inflammation of the 

Ear. 297 

Earache,. 298 


Inflammation of the Eyes, 298 
Inflammation of the Mem¬ 
branes of the Spinal Cord 299 
Inflammation of the Spinal 


Marrow, . 300 

Paralysis,. 302 

Convulsions, . 303 

Epilepsy, . 304 

Hysteria, . 305 

S eep'essness, . 306 

Catarrh, . 307 

Influenza,. 308 

Diseases of the Mouth,_ 308 

Mumps,. 310 

Diseases of the Throat, ... 311 

Croup,. 312 

Choking,. 313 


Pact. 


Goiter,. 314 

Clergyman’s Sore Throat, 3’5 
Hay Asthma—Hay Fever, 317 

Whooping-Cough, . 318 

Diseases of the Chest, .... 319 

Bronchitis,. 319 

Chronic Bronchitis, . 319 

Congestion of the Lungs, .. 320 

Pneumonia, . 321 

Pleurisy,. 322 

Asthma, . 323 

Pulmonary Consumption, . 314- 

Disease of the Heart,.3: 8 

Diseases of Organs vviihin 

the Abdomen, . 3:' 9 

Dyspepsia,. 329 

Inflammation of Stomach, 332 
Inflammation of the Bowels, 333 

Dysentery, .334 

Diarrhea. 336 

Malignant or Epidemic 

Cholera, . 337 

Cholera Morbus,. 340 

Cholera Infantum,. 341 

Wind Colic—Flatulence,.. 342 
Lead Colic, Copper Colic,. 343 

Constipation, .343 

Piles—Hemorrhoids,. 345 

Worms,.£45 

Ascites—Dropsy of the Ab¬ 
domen, . 346 

Diseased Liver,.347 

Diseases of the Spleen, . .. 349 
Inflammation of the Kid¬ 
neys, . 850 

Inflammation of the Bladder 851 
Paralysis of the Bladder,.. 352 

Painful Urination,. 353 

Incontinence of Urine, .... 353 
Uterine Derangements, ... 354 
Inflammation of the Uterus, 354 

Leucorrhoea,. 354 

Suppression of the Menses, 355 
Uterine Displacements, ... 355 

Skin Diseases,. 357 

Itch,. 357 

Accidents,. 358 

Drowning, . 359 

Unknown Diseases,. 360 

Constitutional Treatment, 363 

































































NOTE TO THE READER, 




In giving directions for treating special diseases in Tart 
IV. of this work, the object has not been to present an unva¬ 
rying routine of baths for the patient, but to suggest several 
baths, and other applications of water, any of which would 
be suitable to the disease. It is to be hoped that the reader 
will carefully study the following pages, especially Tarts I. 
and II., and also those portions that treat of general princi¬ 
ples, until he fully understands why and how water and other 
hygienic agents are applicable in the treatment of disease. 
If this is done, there will be no difficulty in prescribing for 
the treatment of disease without the help given in connection 
with the description of special diseases in this work. 

M. G. K. 


( 8 ) 



PART I. 




HYGIENIC 



Health is that condition of the body in which 
every organ performs its whole duty; and as 
health consists of the proper performance of all 
the organic functions, it follows that health is 
normal vital action. When every organ of the 
body performs its whole duty, there is an equal¬ 
ized or balanced condition of the circulation of 
the blood in all parts of the system, and, conse¬ 
quently, a proportionate distribution of vital 
force. The digestive organs transform the food 
into good blood, the lungs receive sufficient air 
to properly vivify the life fluid, while the circu¬ 
latory organs convey it in an even and steady 
current to all parts of the system, and the depu¬ 
rating organs excrete therefrom the broken-down 
tissue, or worn-out material, and effete matters. 
When the system is properly maintained, it does 
not diminish in size or strength, neither does 
it become clogged with gross matter; but every¬ 
thing moves on in perfect harmony among the 
vital organs, and the mind is cheerful, hopeful, 

9 


Fam. Phy 




6 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


and clear, and the individual is happy. Such is 
health. There are certain conditions on which 
health is based, which it is highly important that 
we should understand if we would know how to 
restore the sick to health; for it is the absence, or 
change, of these conditions, that occasions disease. 
Now as disease is an effect, it is evident that if 
we would have the effect cease, we must remove 
the cause; and this we do when we supply the 
conditions on which health is based. 


HYGIENIC AGENTS, OR THE CONDITIONS ON 
WHICH HEALTH IS BASED. 

AIR. 

This element is the first requisite to life and 
health. Without air, no living thing could sur¬ 
vive beyond a very brief space. Air is the first 
thing required by every being at its birth. The 
blood, while circulating through the lungs, comes 
in contact with the air contained within the air- 
cells and passages, and receives oxygen there¬ 
from, thereby becoming vivified. This vivification 
of the blood is very essential to the maintenance 
of life, for the amount and intensity of the vital 
force possessed by the flesh tissues depend large¬ 
ly upon the proper and constant aeration of the 
vital fluid, which is principally effected by the 



HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


7 


lungs, and can only be properly performed dur¬ 
ing full and free respiration. 

The part played by oxygen in the maintaining 
of life, so far as is known, is this: It burns up 
the broken-down tissues, and thus converts them 
into carbonic-acid gas and ashes. The gas is im¬ 
mediately absorbed by the red corpuscles of the 
blood, and is by them conveyed to the lungs, 
where it is exchanged for oxygen. It is this ex¬ 
change of carbonic-acid gas for oxygen that con¬ 
stitutes aeration. The ash which is left after the 
burning of the broken-down tissues, is held in so¬ 
lution by the serum of the blood, and is by it 
transported to the various organs of depuration, 
by which it is separated from the blood and dis¬ 
charged in the urine, perspiration, bile, and fecal 
matters. If oxygen is not received into the sys¬ 
tem in sufficient quantity, the broken-down tis¬ 
sues are not removed from among the living ones 
as they should be, and in consequence, their pres¬ 
ence prevents the formation of new tissue, and 
thus the body is not properly maintained. On 
the other hand, if oxygen is received into the 
system in sufficient quantity, all the worn-out 
matter is burned, or oxidized, and ample oppor¬ 
tunity is given for the rebuilding or repairing 
of all parts. Another benefit derived from the 
oxidation of the wastes of the body is the evolu¬ 
tion of heat; for it is by this process that the 
animal heat is produced and maintained. The 


8 


HYGIENIC FAMILY TIIYSICIAN. 


demand for oxygen to assist in the work of dis¬ 
integration as above described, is so great that an 
amount of blood equal to the entire volume of 
that contained in the body is carried to the lungs 
every three or four minutes for the purpose of 
throwing off its load of carbonic-acid gas and re- 
ceiving a fresh supply of oxygen. Now, as air 
sustains so important a relation to life and health, 
it is highly important that it should be received 
into the lungs in as pure a condition as possible. 
For this reason, every person, whether in health 
or in disease, should be located where he will not 
inhale the noxious gases that are thrown off by 
decaying vegetable or animal substances, nor 
those that arise from the chemical combination 
of minerals; and he should always see that his 
living and sleeping rooms are well ventilated 
both day and night. 

LIGHT. 

The sun is the great source of life for ail 
vitalized structures or creatures upon the earth. 
Without its genial influences, nothing that now 
lives could long survive, and no more vitalized 
structures, either vegetable or animal, could be 
produced. The plant cannot grow when de¬ 
prived of sunlight. Place it in a dark cellar, and 
feed it with the choicest of fertilizers, and water 
it with the best of plant drinks; yet if deprived 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


9 


weakens. Its bright colors fade, it soon ceases 
to grow, and finally dies. This is also true of 
every member of the animal kingdom. Deprive 
them of the influence of sunlight, and they soon 
lose their activity, and their vitality gradually 
diminishes. The same is also true of human be¬ 
ings. Those who are most in the sunlight are 
the most hardy of the race. 

A child can be raised no more successfully in 
the dark, or in deep shade, than can a vegetable. 
Look at those who are reared in the dark¬ 
ened rooms and shaded streets of our crowded 
cities. They are puny, sickly persons. The mor¬ 
tuary tables show that one-lialf of the offspring 
of those who live in populous cities die under 
five years of age, and that very few of the other 
half reach the age of forty years; while of those 
who are born in the crowded tenement houses or 
in habitations situated on dark or shaded streets, 
very few reach manhood or womanhood. The 
majority pass into the grave in childhood, and of 
those that survive, the major part have but fee¬ 
ble constitutions and are always ailing. Look 
at the daughters of the wealthy. Why is it that 
they are so enfeebled ? The fact that they are 
kept in from the sunshine lest their skin should 
become tawny, and the additional fact that the 
sunlight is shut out from their dwelling rooms 
and parlors lest it should fade the rich carpets 
and injure the elegant furniture, is one of tbe 


10 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


chief reasons why the bloom of health disappears 
from their cheeks. 

As a hygienic agent, sunlight stands second to 
very few others. So important is its influence 
to the manifestation and maintenance of life and 
health that human beings should ever seek to 
spend as much as possible of their time in the light. 

Throw open the shutters and let in the sun¬ 
shine if you would have health. The sick, espe- 
cially, should be allowed to enjoy all the bene¬ 
fits which are imparted by this health-giving 
agent. There are very few diseases from which 
the patient would not recover quicker in a light 
room than in a darkened one. Light imparts 
cheerfulness, confidence, and trust; while dark¬ 
ness, or deep shade, always produces a tendency 
to gloom, despondency, and dread, in the sick or 
nervous person. 

Sunlight and pure air serve to prevent damp¬ 
ness and the formation of vegetable mold, and 
also serve to drive these from every nook and 
corner into which they are permitted to enter. 

In fact, these two agents—sunlight and pure 
aii occupy so important a position as hygienic 
agents that very many diseased individuals can 
never regain health until they adopt the plan of 
living much of the time in the open air, or at 
least where they shall receive the full benefit of 
the sun s genial rays and the invigorating influ¬ 
ences of a pure atmosphere. Hence, we°say to 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


11 


those who have charge of the sick, Admit the 
sunlight freely to your patients at all times, un¬ 
less they have weak eyes or are uncommonly 
nervous; but even then do not shut out all light. 

WATER. 

As a hygienic agent, water occupies a position 
of great importance. It constitutes by far the 
greater portion of the bulk and weight of the 
body, and forms a very essential element in all 
of its tissues, some of them being almost wholly 
composed of water, of which the brain is an ex¬ 
ample. Water is also the chief constituent of the 
blood, and is the medium by which the vitalized 
corpuscles, albumen, fibrine, and caseine—materi¬ 
als of which the tissues of the body are built—are 
transported to those parts where needed for the 
purpose of repairing or building the tissues. It 
also serves as a means of transportation for con¬ 
veying the worn-out material and effete matters 
to those organs whose duty it is to remove them 
from the system. 

Another purpose which water serves is that of 
purification. The skin is an important organ of 
depuration, more than one-half of the effete mat¬ 
ters of the system being thrown out by it in con¬ 
nection with the insensible perspiration. These 
soon form a scaly incrustation which closes the 
pores of the skin unless it be kept cleansed with 
water. Many times individuals are made sick be- 


12 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


cause their skin lias become clogged with impu¬ 
rities through want of proper bathing. 

Soft water only should be used. When it is 
possible to obtain it, none but pure soft water 
should be used either for purposes of bathing, 
drinking, or cooking. In some parts of the coun¬ 
try, springs of soft water are to be found; while 
in others, soft water is obtained by digging wells. 
There are, however, many very large sections 
where only hard water can be obtained from 
either springs or wells; yet there are few habita¬ 
ble portions of the earth’s surface where a suf¬ 
ficient quantity of soft water cannot be obtained 
by catching the rain as it falls and storing it in 
cisterns, where it can ever be ready at hand for 
use. 

Hard water should not be used either for cook¬ 
ing, drinking, or bathing, when soft water can be 
had, for the reason that the hard water contains 
certain mineral substances which are injurious to 
life, such as lime, salt, magnesia, borax, alum, 
iron, sulphur, etc. None of these, when taken 
into the system, are usable either in building up 
the tissues or in maintaining life; and the organs 
of depuration, i. e., the liver, kidneys, mucous 
membrane of the intestines, skin, and lungs have 
to remove them from the system the same as they 
do the ashes and effete matters spoken of under 
the head of air; otherwise, the entire system 
would become clogged with them, the circulation 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


13 


would be impeded, the body thereby would be im¬ 
properly maintained, and death would soon ensue. 

One ot the reasons why so many people suffer 
so much with diseased livers, kidney difficulties, 
lung complaints, bowel complaints, agues, fevers, 
skin diseases, rheumatism, etc., is because they 
drink hard water. The mineral substances taken 
into the system with the water have all to be cast 
out of the system by the above-mentioned organs 
of depuration, and they become overworked, worn- 
out, or diseased, in their endeavors to perform the 
extra work which is imposed upon them. 

Another evil that results from drinking hard 
water is the formation of hard concretions, or cal¬ 
culi, commonly known as gravel. These concre¬ 
tions may form in various parts of the body, but 
are usually found in the kidneys and bladder, al¬ 
though they sometimes occur in the lungs and 
also in the liver. These concretions are formed 
by the percipitation of the mineral substances 
held in solution in the blood. It is true that the 
use of hard water does not occasion any immedi¬ 
ate, appreciable ill effects, yet its continued use 
will sooner or later break down the strongest con¬ 
stitution ; for as the various organs of depuration 
expend their vitality in eliminating these sub¬ 
stances, they have less strength wherewith to 
perform their usual work, and as a consequence 
the system becomes clogged with the wastes of 


14 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


the body and disease of some kind must follow, 
sooner or later. 

Pure water only should be used. All water 
that has stood long in the open air is liable to be¬ 
come impure, either by vegetable or animal sub¬ 
stances falling into it, or by the absorption of cer¬ 
tain noxious gases. Water containing vegetable 
or animal substances in a state of decomposition, 
or that has absorbed organic impurities by stand¬ 
ing in an open vessel over night or through the 
day in a room that is occupied by persons or 
animals, is even more injurious than hard water, 
and should never be used without filtering. 

The rain water caught on wooden roofs always 
contains more or less decaying vegetable matter, 
which comes from the wood of the roof, while the 
dark or yellow color of the water is due to the 
presence of soot, smoke, dust, and other impuri¬ 
ties which collect upon the roof. 

Rain water can be rendered nearly pure by 
filtering. Water is filtered naturally by passing 
through large and compact bodies of sand, or 
through porous sandstone. Such water is usu¬ 
ally pure and soft. We can imitate nature by 
passing water through vessels filled with sand and 
charcoal. A good filter can be made by fitting a 
perforated false bottom into a barrel so as to leave 
an air chamber about three inches deep. Then 
lay over this bottom a layer of coarse gravel or 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


15 


broken sandstone, then a second layer of broken 
charcoal, the lumps the size of large pea,s. This 
should be well packed, so as to prevent the finer 
particles from sifting through. Then fill the bar¬ 
rel up to within three inches of the top with finely 
powdered charcoal that is freshly burned, mixed 
with twice its bulk of fine, well-washed sand. 
Cover the whole with a flannel cloth, and pour 
on the water. 

There should be a small pipe connecting with 
the chamber below, and this pipe should extend 
as high as the top of the barrel. This pipe serves 
as an outlet and inlet for air as the filtered water 
rises or falls in the chamber. There should also 
be a stop-cock or faucet for drawing the filtered 
water from the chamber. Every family who 
would have health should have a cistern for rain 
water and a filter, unless they have soft spring or 
well water. As before stated, stone in the blad¬ 
der, gravel in the kidneys, calculi in the liver, and 
concretions and tubercles in the lungs are some 
of the evils resulting from the use of hard water. 

FOOD. 

The tissues of our bodies are constantly wear¬ 
ing out. We cannot perform a single act, or even 
think, without wearing out some portion of the 
tissues, and these require to be constantly re¬ 
plenished ; otherwise, the whole body would soon 
be used up. It is this wearing-out process that 





](j HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

creates a demand for food. And as with all other 
things, so with the human body; its nature, form, 
properties, and other qualities, depend largely on 
the nature and properties of the material from 
which it is constructed. In order that our bod¬ 
ies may be properly maintained, it is necessary 
that our food should be just adapted to the wants 
of our systems. 

The food we eat should contain all the elements 
required to build up the body; otherwise, some 
part, or the whole, of the system will be improp¬ 
erly sustained. If our food is mingled with, or 
contains, elements that are not usable in the sys¬ 
tem, the organs of depuration have additional 
work to do in removing these unusable elements 
from the system, and this extra work will soon 
wear them out. 

Regularity should be observed in the time of 
eating; for the digestive organs become weary 
by long-continued labor, and require rest. In 
order that they may obtain this rest, it is neces¬ 
sary that the food should be taken at stated 
times, and never until the previous meal has been 
digested, and the stomach has had sufficient time 
to rest. 

The quantity of food taken at a meal has also 
an important influence upon the health. If food 
is taken in too great quantities or too frequently, 
it cannot be properly digested ; consequently, the 
health and strength of the body will not be 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


17 


properly maintained, and a great amount of the 
vital force will be expended in expelling this 
same improperly digested food; for food which 
has not been properly digested, is not usable, and 
is regarded by the system as a poison, as really 
as is any other foreign substance. 

NUMBER, OF MEALS. 

The American people, as a general rule, eat 
altogether too frequently to be healthy. After 
a child is three or four years of age, it should 
not be allowed to cat more than three times in 
the twenty-four hours, unless it is sick and able 
to take only a very little nutriment at a time. 
It is this pernicious habit of eating between 
meals that ruins the stomachs, and thus under¬ 
mines the constitutions, of children. They do 
not eat because they are hungry; for such 
children know nothing of real hunger. They have 
a morbid appetite, an unnatural craving, but this 
is not hunger. Infants under one year of age 
should take food four or five times in the twenty- 
four hours, at regular intervals. After they are 
one year old, three meals a day will be far better 
than more in the majority of cases; but of this, 
the mother or nurse must be the judge in each 
case. Adults who have always been in the habit 
of eating three meals a day, or of eating late 
suppers, usually rise in the morning with but 
little appetite for breakfast. The mouth lias a 



18 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


bad taste, and they do not feel as well as after 
having been up a few hours. This is because 
they fell asleep with undigested food in their 
stomachs, and a part of the organs had to remain 
awake to digest this food; consequently, the sleep 
was not as refreshing as it would have been had 
all of the organs rested and slept together, and 
especially is this true of the stomach. 

The stomach is in direct connection with the 
brain by means of the pneumogastric nerve; 
therefore, when the stomach is actively at work, 
the brain must of necessity be more or less dis¬ 
turbed. It is for this reason that late suppers 
should never be indulged in. Those who have 
properly tried the two-meal system invariably 
find that they are much better able to endure 
severe, protracted labor, either mental or phys¬ 
ical, than they were when in the habit of eating 
three times a day. And, in addition, they find 
that their sleep is much more refreshing, they are 
not troubled with a disagreeable taste in the 
mouth on rising, and no longer suffer from sour 
stomach, heartburn, waterbrash, or eructations, 
unless they overeat, which is sometimes the case 
even with those who eat but twice a day. 

THE KIND OP POOD. 

Each species of animals is just adapted to sub¬ 
sist on certain kinds of food. Some species will 
thrive and maintain themselves in good condition 



HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


19 


on certain kinds of food upon which other ani¬ 
mals would starve. 

Various as are the species belonging to the 
animal kingdom, they all derive their food, either 
directly or indirectly, from the vegetable king¬ 
dom. It is true that some classes of animals 
subsist wholly upon animal flesh, and that other 
classes, man included, make flesh a large portion 
of their aliment; yet the animals that are thus 
eaten derive their nourishment directly from the 
vegetable kingdom, so that all the nourishment 
taken by even the flesh-eating animals is derived 
indirectly from the vegetable kingdom. 

The reason why one animal can subsist upon 
food upon which another would starve, is that 
the digestive apparatus of each species of animals 
is just adapted to digest certain special kinds of 
food, and no other kind of food can be so readily 
converted into blood as can that to which the di¬ 
gestive organs are just adapted. An examina¬ 
tion of the organs of the various species of ani¬ 
mals, and of their habits when in a state of 
nature, with no artificial habits, will show us 
why one animal can subsist on small twigs and 
boughs of bushes or trees, while another uses 
straw or hay, and yet another subsists wholly 
upon grain, while a fourth uses no other food 
than fruit. The teeth, jaws, stomach, intestines, 
and other organs of these animals, will be found 
to differ as widely in form and texture as the 



20 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


foods upon which these animals subsist differ in 
quality, solidity, and nutrient properties. There 
is no doubt but that man can subsist for a time, 
at least, upon very many kinds of vegetable sub¬ 
stances, and also upon most kinds of flesh. In 
fact, nutrient properties are to be found in all 
these; but in many of them there may also be 
found innutritious substances that are not only 
useless, but actually injurious, if not poisonous, 
when taken into the system. In the vegetable 
kingdom, all those substances which possess nar¬ 
cotic properties, or that stimulate or irritate the 
nervous organism, should be rejected. This class 
includes spices of all kinds, peppers, pungent and 
aromatic roots, plants and herbs, tobacco, tea, cof¬ 
fee, and herb drinks of all kinds, all vegetable ex¬ 
tracts and essential oils, together with large quanti¬ 
ties of sugar in any of its varied forms. It leaves, 
however, for the free use of man, all the culti¬ 
vated, and many of the uncultivated, fruits and 
grains, and many varieties of esculent roots, all 
of which, when properly prepared, are proper 
food for man, as well as the most nourishing that 
he can use. 

Flesh-meat is not as good food for man as are 
vegetable substances. It contains no nutrient 
property that is not to be obtained from vegeta¬ 
ble substances, since the animal from which the 
flesh is obtained derived its nourishment from the 
vegetable kingdom. All flesh, also, even while 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


21 


the animal is still in life and health, contains more 
or less broken-down tissue in a state of decompo¬ 
sition. After the animal has been slaughtered, 
decomposition speedily becomes much more ex¬ 
tensive and rapidly progresses to putrefaction. 
In fact, freshly slaughtered flesh is not considered 
by epicures as being as palatable as that which 
has been slaughtered a few days. It is not as 
sweet, juicy, or tender as it is after the process 
of decomposition has commenced. These three 
properties are all due to its partial decomposition. 

Flesh-meat is said to be stimulating. This is 
because it contains decomposed and effete mat¬ 
ters, the debris and worn-out tissues of the body, 
which are regarded by the system as poisonous. 
It is the effort of the system to expel these which 
produces the effect called stimulation. 

FATS AND OILS. 

These substances should never be made use of 
as food, for they do not contain the proper ele¬ 
ments to build up the vital tissues. All our food 
contains more or less saccharine matter, as starch 
and sugar, and these are converted into fat in the 
body, so that we have an ample supply of such 
material without eating the fats and oils of either 
animals or vegetables. 

Fam. Pbys. 

B 


o 

O 



22 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


MANNER OP EATING. 

Food should always be thoroughly masticated. 
When this is done, no inconvenience will be ex¬ 
perienced in partaking of a full meal without 
drink. There are two benefits to be derived from 
thorough mastication of the food. 1. The stom¬ 
ach will have less work to do, since it will not be 
obliged to perform any extra labor in reducing 
the food to a homogeneous liquid, and thereby 
become prematurely worn out. 2. The food be¬ 
comes thoroughly insalivated only when properly 
masticated. The saliva is a digestive fluid, and 
without its aid, the food cannot be properly di¬ 
gested ; therefore, let every person eat slowly and 
masticate his food well. Thirty minutes is as 
little time as a person should occupy in eating 
an ordinary meal. A portion of this time should 
be spent in cheerful conversation on some pleas¬ 
ant topic, for there is nothing more promotive to 
digestion than cheerfulness of mind. 


POOD FOR INFANTS. 

Infants should take their nourishment in a fluid 
condition until nature furnishes them with teeth 
with which to masticate more solid kinds. The 
stomach of the infant differs quite materially 
from that of the adult, both in form and also in 
the texture of its walls. In infancy, its shape is 
much more conical than in adult life, and it is 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


23 


better adapted to make use of fluid food then 
than at any other period of life. 

A babe under tvyo months should be nursed or 
fed once in three hours in the daytime, and once 
in the night, if restless. If the child is between 
two and six months old, it should be fed every 
three and a half or four hours in the daytime, 
and no oftener; and if of fair health and strength, 
it should not be fed during the night. 

The food of the infant should be its mother’s 
milk; but if this is not to be had, cows’ milk 
should be substituted for it, always selecting a 
young, healthy, new-milch cow. Milk from very 
old, or diseased, or farrow cows is not fit for any 
human stomach. If for any cause the child cannot 
have its mother’s milk, it may be fed on the fresh 
milk of a young, healthy, new-milch cow. The 
milk should be warm when fed to the child, and 
should never be given to it after it has stood 
twelve or fourteen hours if new milk can be had. 
The cream should not be removed from the milk, 
but should be well stirred into it. If the milk is 
found to be too rich, a little water should be add¬ 
ed. In some cases, it should be half water. If 
the right kind of milk cannot be obtained, gruel 
may be made that will be as good as cows’ milk, 
if not better. Take powdered barley (it may bo 
ground in a perfectly clean coffee mill, or pounded 
in a mortar), a teaspoonful to a gill of water, and 
boil it fifteen or twenty minutes. Strain through 



24 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


a fine sieve or strainer, and add a very little loal 
sugar. If good milk can be had, add one-third 
milk. This should be given to the child blood- 
warm through a nursing bottle, keeping the 
bottle and mouthpiece in water, when not in 
use, to keep them sweet and clean. For infants 
under six months old, this diet will be found bet¬ 
ter than a diet of cows’ milk only. Do not add 
much sugar, as it will make the child costive, and 
will occasion torpidity of its liver. 

If the child becomes very costive, give it gruel 
made of oat-meal, or of unbolted wheat meal. 
Always cook it well and strain it. If barley or 
barley meal cannot be had, use oat-meal and gra¬ 
ham flour instead. Graham meal, constantly 
used, will be apt to cause diarrhea. In this case, 
it should be used alternately with oat-meal, the 
child being given a tepid enema, followed by a 
small, cool enema. When diarrhea first sets in, 
the child should fast one meal. 

The child will do better if its food is frequently 
changed from one of these grains to the other. 
Never overfeed the child. Many mothers allow 
their babes to nurse or feed until they have to 
vomit. This is wrong. Overfeeding and hot 
and foul air are the chief causes of summer com¬ 
plaint. 

As the child advances in age, it will bear a 
larger proportion of milk in its food than was 
formerly used, and will also require a greater va- 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


25 


riety of food. Unbolted wheat-meal bread, and 
most of the various grains, and sound, ripe, sweet, 
or subacid fruits, may be given it. Baked apples 
and pears are excellent, if given in small quan¬ 
tities. 

Infants should not be allowed to eat sugar, but¬ 
ter, nor much cream, for these are the substances 
which go to make fat in the body, none of them 
being convertible into flesh. While it is better 
that these things should be abstained from en¬ 
tirely in most cases, yet it is true that a little 
cream, if diluted with soft water, is not very ob¬ 
jectionable if only occasionally taken. The same 
is true of sugar used sparingly in the gruel; and 
in some cases, it is better that these things 
should be used. The chief objection to these 
things is their excessive use. It is impossible to 
lay down a rule that shall say just how much su¬ 
gar or cream a person can use without injury to 
his system, for the organs in one individual differ 
so much in tone and activity from those of an¬ 
other that the same amount of sugar or cream 
that one person might eat without injury would, 
if eaten by another, occasion most serious results. 
Therefore, it is far safer to let these things en¬ 
tirely alone. Children should not be allowed to 
overeat, to eat between meals, nor to eat candies, 
confectionery, nor condiments of any kind. One 
of the chief reasons why children have sores break 


2G 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


out on various parts of their bodies is because they 
do not observe these rules. 

FOOD FOR- ADULTS. 

Adults, and in fact all persons over two or three 
years of age, require solid, or semi-solid, food. 
By the term solid food is meant any food that 
is'not in a sufficiently fluid state to admit of its 
being swallowed readily without mastication. 
As previously stated, the stomachs of infants are 
just adapted to digest milk and similar food; but 
as the child advances in years, its stomach gradu¬ 
ally undergoes a change in form and structure, so 
that solid food is digested much more readily 
than is milk or other fluid substances. For this 
reason, our meals should be taken without drink. 
When we use drinks with our food, we are apt 
to wash it down half masticated, and, what is 
equally as detrimental to digestion, we fill our 
stomachs with fluid which serves only to dilute 
the gastric juice and prevent it from doing its 
work properly; for the food can never be digest¬ 
ed when the stomach contains much other fluid 
besides the gastric juice. Even in infancy the 
watery portion of the food is all absorbed from 
the milk or fluid food before the work of diges¬ 
tion can commence. 

The work of absorbing the fluids we drink not 
only retards the work of digestion, but also wea- 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


27 


ries the stomach and unfits it to do its work well. 

Another fact worthy of notice is, that if we ac¬ 
custom our teeth to masticate hard food, they 
will be sound, strong, and firm ; whereas if they 
are not so accustomed, they become weak and 
soon decay. 

HOT DRINKS. 

There is one habit, very detrimental to health, 
which is freely indulged in by almost every fam¬ 
ily in the land ; viz., that of taking warm or hot 
drinks with their meals. An incalculable amount 
of injury is done to the teeth by the use of hot 
tea, coffee, and the various slop drinks which are 
prepared to take the place of these, and the same 
is eminently true of the stomach. Hot food or 
drink relaxes and weakens the muscular coats of 
the stomach and thereby disqualifies it to do its 
work properly. In addition to these evils, many 
diseased actions and conditions are occasioned in 
the system by the poisonous constituents of the 
tea and coffee, such as the theine of the tea, and 
the poisonous drugs with which it is prepared and 
adulterated, and the caffeine of the coffee, and 
the foreign materials with which prepared coffee 
is often mixed. The same is also true of all 
stimulating drinks—all distilled and ferment¬ 
ed liquors; hence, all such drinks should be 
avoided, and no drink taken at any time except 
pure, soft water, if obtainable, or milk, or the 


28 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN, 


freshly expressed juice of sound, ripe fruit. The 
last, however, should be taken immediately after 
it is pressed from the fruit, as fermentation soon 
takes place. It should also be taken in very 
small quantities, for if taken in excess, more or 
less of it will ferment while in the system, before 
it can be used by the tissues. 

TEMPEEATUEE. 

Another very important condition upon which 
good health is based, is the right degree of tem¬ 
perature. This must be maintained; otherwise 
health cannot long exist, for the proper cir¬ 
culation of the blood depends almost wholly upon 
the maintenance of the proper degree of temper¬ 
ature in the body. 

The heat of the body is all generated within 
the system by the friction which occurs in the 
processes of transformation (converting food into 
flesh) and disintegration (separating the worn- 
out tissues from the sound). In health, there is 
an equal development of heat in all parts of the 
system, the limbs being just as warm as other 
parts. Now as the oxidation of the wastes of 
the body is the chief source of animal heat, and 
as this oxidizing process is constantly occurring, 
it follows that heat is constantly generated with¬ 
in the system. This being the case, it is evident 
that unless there were some means for conducting 
away the surplus heat, the body would sometimes 





HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


20 


become extremely hot. This want is incidentally 
supplied in the vaporization of the watery por¬ 
tion of the perspiration which is poured out 
upon the surface of the body by the sweat glands. 
This action is usually carried on without being 
observed, when it is called insensible perspiration. 
At such times, evaporation takes place so rapidly 
that the perspiration does not accumulate. While 
this evaporation serves to assist in removing the 
excretions from the system, it also serves a most 
important part in regulating the temperature of 
the body, thus enabling it to endure the vicissi¬ 
tudes and changes of the weather and seasons, 
and to adapt itself to various and diverse cli¬ 
mates and countries. When a person is at rest, 
or exercising moderately, the evaporation of the 
small quantity of moisture which passes off in¬ 
sensibly is sufficient to keep the temperature of 
the body at the normal standard; but when vio¬ 
lent exercise is engaged in, the wastes of the 
body are greatly increased and, consequently, a 
much larger amount of heat is produced; but the 
circulation being necessarily increased at the 
same time, the sweat glands of the skin become 
correspondingly active and pour out upon the 
surface a much greater quantity of fluid which, 
by absorbing the heat of the body, is converted 
into vapor, thus rendering latent, and removing 
from the body, the surplus heat which would oth- 


30 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


erwise prove exceedingly detrimental to the in¬ 
terests of the system. 

If for any cause the temperature of the body 
either rises a few degrees above, or sinks a few 
degrees below, 98° Fahrenheit, the fluids become 
changed, the organs cease to perform their func¬ 
tions, and death follows. This being the case, it 
is easy to understand the importance of keeping 
the temperature of the body as near the normal 
standard as possible. One very essential means 
of keeping the body in this condition is the tak¬ 
ing of a bath once or twice a week, thereby 
keeping the skin clean and the pores open, that 
there may ever be a free exit for the perspi¬ 
ration. If for any cause the sweat glands have 
ceased their work, and the system has become 
hot and feverish, it should be frequently bathed, 
or dampened with wet cloths. The water used for 
this purpose may be either hot, warm, tepid, cool, 
or cold, as is most agreeable to the patient. As 
the water thus applied vaporizes, the heat of the 
body is conducted off and the fever is reduced. 

Another point to be considered in regard to 
temperature is that all parts of the body and limbs 
must have an equal temperature, for without an 
equal temperature there cannot be an equalized 
circulation of the blood, and without this, health 
cannot exist. 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


31 


CLOTHING. 

It is quite probable that there is no subject con¬ 
cerning which so little thought is given by the 
majority of women as the proper mode of cloth¬ 
ing the body so as to keep it in health. Many 
women, in these days of plenty, dress to look 
pretty and to outdo their neighbors, while very 
few dress with reference to the conditions that 
make dress a necessity. The primary necessity 
for dress is to prevent the too rapid escape of the 
heat of the body, and to protect the system from 
the evil effects of frequent atmospheric changes 
of temperature, humidity, etc.; and to meet these 
varying conditions should always be the chief 
aim in preparing clothing for the body. 

In order that the temperature of the body may 
not be unbalanced, and one part become too warm 
while another part becomes too cold, it is neces¬ 
sary that all parts should be equally well clad. 
The limbs should be clothed just as warmly as 
the body, and still more attention should be 
bestowed upon the clothing of the feet if the 
person is of sedentary habits. But this is not 
the way most women dress. They clothe the 
body altogether too warmly, loading it down 
with skirts, etc., while the limbs are exposed to 
a constant current of air. No woman, dressed in 
the usual manner, can walk without creating a 
current of air about her limbs by the swinging 


32 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


motion given to her dress. This must of neces¬ 
sity chill the limbs and prevent free circulation 
of the blood. 

Look at the manner in which little girls are 
dressed. It is just as impossible to rear the girls 
of the rising generation into healthful women 
unless their mothers dress them more healthfully, 
as it would be to make a world. Health and an 
equalized circulation are inseparable, and such a 
circulation cannot exist when the body is clad 
more warmly than the limbs. How often we see 
little girls with the dress made without sleeves, 
and reaching only to the knee, the arms and up¬ 
per part of the chest being left entirely bare, while 
the limbs are protected only by a pair of thin 
cotton drawers, which in many cases do not reach 
to the stockings. The effect of such a dress can 
only be to keep some parts of the body warm 
while other parts are allowed to chill. The cir¬ 
culation thus becomes unbalanced by the blood 
receding from the chilled surface and extremities, 
and, as a consequence, the vital organs become 
congested so that healthful action is impossible, 
and disease is the result. 

The women of America are great sufferers from 
diseases peculiar to the sex; and as all diseases 
are but results, so with these. They too have 
been produced by causes, and of these, the cause 
which has contributed more than any other to 
bring about the diseased condition in which they 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


33 


find themselves lias been tlieir manner of dress 
in childhood, youth, and adult life; for it is a 
fact that, with very few exceptions, women do 
not for a single day of their lives dress physiolog¬ 
ically, the dress in adult life being just as con¬ 
trary to the laws of health and hygiene as in 
childhood. 

Another point to be considered in adjusting 
the dress to the body is that it should set free 
and easy and should not cause pressure on any 
part, nor interfere in the least with any move¬ 
ment of the body or limbs. The chest must be 
especially guarded against pressure or constric¬ 
tion. If the waist is drawn in, there cannot be 
free breathing; and without this, there can be 
but little vitality. The habit of wearing corsets 
or of tight lacing is very pernicious. Even the 
wearing of under garments fastened with bands 
about the waist is injurious. 

Clothe the arms, limbs, and feet just as warmly 
as any part of the body, suspend every garment 
from the shoulders, make the garments so that 
when the lungs are filled to their utmost capac- 
itv there will be room about the waist between 
the garment and the body. Be sure that the 
garments are all so adjusted that every move¬ 
ment which it is possible to make with any part 
of the body, limbs, or arms, may bo made with¬ 
out straining the garment, and without causing 
pressure. Never wear a load of skirts to keep 


34 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


tlie limbs warm, but wear under garments t hat shall 
fit each limb separately. Let the entire body, the 
arms and the limbs, be enveloped in an under 
garment all in one piece. Over this, clothe the 
limbs with suitable garments that will allow of 
the wearing of pants that reach from the knee to 
the ankle joint. Let the dress be worn so as to 
reach within six, eight, or ten inches of the floor. 
Clothe the feet with warm, high stockings and 
with shoes or boots sufficiently large to admit of 
moving the toes. Keep the shoes soft and plia¬ 
ble. The soles should be wide and thick; the 
heels should be neither high nor narrow. Never 
wear corsets, bands, or belts, about the waist. 
Never wear elastics, cords, or ribbons about the 
limbs to hold the stockings up. Retain them in 
place by buttoning them to the drawers. Keep 
the feet warm, the head cool, the circulation even, 
and the temperature of the body at 98°, and you 
will not be sick. 


EXERCISE. 

Another condition on which good health is 
based is proper exercise. The human body is com¬ 
posed largely of muscular tissue. Every move¬ 
ment of the body or of its various organs and 
tissues is performed wholly by muscular contrac¬ 
tion. There is not an organ or tissue, capable 
of action, in which muscular fibers do not form a 
part of the structure; and it is by the con- 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


35 


traction of these fibers that these organs and 
tissues are enabled to perform their functions. 
There is but one function that the muscles can 
perform, and that is contraction or exercise. 
Now, as health is that condition of the body in 
which every organ performs, or exercises, its 
functions properly, it is evident that health can¬ 
not exist without exercise. To insure health, 
every muscle must be brought into exercise. 
When this is not done, the tissues become soft 
and flabby, the body weakens, the vital organs 
cease to perform their work properly, and the in¬ 
dividual soon finds himself becoming debilitated. 

One of the reasons—and it is not a slight one 
—why students, ministers, clerks, and women, 
especially the wives and daughters of the 
wealthy, find themselves in poor health, is be¬ 
cause they neglect to take sufficient exercise. 
Exercise always strengthens and increases the 
health of any portion of the body by increasing 
the circulation of blood in the part. It also gives 
firmness and elasticity to the tissues. The arm 
of the blacksmith feels solid and firm, while that 
of the clerk is soft and without strength. 

All who would have health must take daily 
exercise in the open air. See articles on Air and 
Light. 


36 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


REST. 

This is also a condition which is requisite 
to good health. Many people become diseased 
through want of rest; yet the same individuals 
might accomplish more than they now do if they 
only knew how to rest to the best advantage. 

Rest does not consist in idleness, but chiefly in 
change of employment. The individual who lies 
in bed for forty-eight or sixty hours, thus becom¬ 
ing weary, will find rest by rising and engaging 
in labor. The same is true with the student. 
He, too, finds rest in manual labor, in walking, 
or in almost any kind of physical exercise. It is 
when labor is constant, and is all performed 
through one set of organs, that it becomes weari¬ 
some. What is required in the matter of exer¬ 
cise and rest is that when one set of organs have 
become weary, they should be allowed to rest, 
another set being called into immediate action. 

Man is a being whose organism demands that 
he should manifest vitality in a diversity of 
ways. He requires physical, intellectual, and 
moral exercise, and he can act in no one of these 
directions continuously, or uninterruptedly, for 
any length of time, without positive injury to 
his health; neither can he possess good health 
unless he does, at regular periods, take exercise 
in each of these three ways. 

Man’s organs of physical action can only be 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


37 


used in physical exercise; his intellectual organs 
in intellectual exercise; and his moral organs in 
the manifestation of moral attributes. Each of 
these classes of labor must be performed daily to 
insure the most perfect health. 

TAKING EKERCISE AND NEST. 

If we would enjoy the most perfect health, 
we should be occupied from six to ten hours 
daily in physical labor, from two to four hours 
in intellectual labor, and from one to three hours 
in meditation and moral reflection, three to five 
hours in social intercourse, during which time the 
meals should be taken, and the remaining six or 
eight hours in sleep. 

When the organs of voluntary motion have 
performed their allotted task, they should rest, 
and the mental organs should, for a time, be 
called into action by meditation upon those 
things which relate to the development of moral 
character, after which they may be exercised by 
investigating, for a time, some subject relating to 
literature, science, or social or political relations, 
and thereby develop the intellect. In so doing, 
time is afforded each part and organ for rest. 
Recreation should usually be taken in a social 
manner, since much more pleasure, and conse¬ 
quent benefit, will be thus derived from it than 
when taken otherwise. The same is equally true 

4 


Fam. Phys. 


38 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


of eating, since cheerful conversation and associ¬ 
ation are promotive of digestion. 

SLEEP. 

As has been already intimated, sleep is highly 
essential to health. In fact, without regular pe¬ 
riods for sleep, there can be no health, as it is 
during those periods that the tissues of the body 
are most perfectly built up. While the individ¬ 
ual is awake, he is more or less active, especially 
his sensory and motor systems of nerves. Sleep 
is simply the resting of the brain from all mental 
exercise, and the consequent cessation of the 
above-mentioned nerves from all labor. The 
amount of time required for sleep varies with 
different individuals. A person who is sluggish 
in all his habits requires more hours for sleep 
than a person possessed of greater activity, for 
the reason that he sleeps slower; that is, the 
reparation of his tissues is carried on less actively. 
He consequently requires more sleep—more time 
to repair and build up the various tissues of the 
body. It is for this reason that a man of nerv¬ 
ous temperament requires much less sleep than 
others. 

In order that we may derive the greatest ben¬ 
efit from sleep, it is essential that it should be 
undisturbed. When this is not the case, the 
work of changing the blood into the solid tissues 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


39 


is also disturbed, and, consequently, the body is 
not maintained as it should be. We should en¬ 
deavor to form the habit of sleeping during the 
whole period allotted to rest, without waking. 
To do this, these three things are quite essential : 

1. We should not eat late suppers, for in so 
doing we place in our stomachs food that must 
be digested, and this work of digestion disturbs 
the brain and keeps it partially active, causing 
unpleasant dreams. To insure sound sleep, no 
food should be taken into the stomach later than 
three o’clock in the afternoon. 

2. We must not become over-exhausted physic¬ 
ally, for if we do we cannot sleep soundly; but 
we should perform our heavy labor in the fore¬ 
part of the day, and as the day declines, should 
moderate our labor by changing from heavy 
work to lighter, or by doing less. 

3. We should always retire for sleep with our 
minds free from care and anxious thought; oth¬ 
erwise, our slumbers will be broken. Many per¬ 
sons take their business cares and anxieties to 
bed with them, and study and worry until they 
fall asleep. As a consequence, they dream of 
their business affairs and transactions, and pass 
the night in a half-wakeful condition, deriving 
but little benefit from their sleep. The person 
who would possess health of body and strength 
of mind must be regular in all his habits. He 
should attend to business only during busi- 


40 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ness hours. He should retire early and rise early. 
Nature indicates the time for retiring by hiding 
from our eyes the orb of day, thereby obscuring 
from our vision things that would excite wake¬ 
fulness and mental activity, and by hushing all 
animate nature into stillness and quietude, thus 
bidding man also to seek repose. There is noth¬ 
ing that will serve the purpose of drawing our 
minds from the labors, cares, and business of the 
day as will a pleasant social interview of two or 
three hours, and an additional hour spent in si¬ 
lent meditation and communion with the Being 
that formed us. Children require much more 
sleep than do adults, for the reason that they 
have much more building up of tissue to do while 
growing than after having attained to full stature. 
Infants require to sleep most of the time, and 
children of three or four years should sleep at 
least one-half of the time. After children have 
reached the age of four or five years, they should 
be encouraged to rise early, and to insure suffi¬ 
cient time for sleep they should retire early. 
Habits thus formed in childhood are generally 
life lasting. Many parents allow their children 
to keep late hours, to be from home late in the 
evening, etc.; this is all wrong. There is liabil¬ 
ity of their children being injured morally by 
associating with the vicious; and there is also 
danger of their ruining their physical health by 
forming irregular habits. 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


41 


While children are young, and their minds 
and judgments are immature, the parents are re¬ 
sponsible for not only the health, but also for the 
habits and education of their children. There 
are many children whose minds naturally incline 
to study, and who will be very liable to deprive 
themselves of necessary sleep that they may have 
time to do so. Parents of such children should 
give them time for study at proper hours, and 
should see that they do not rob themselves of 
sleep. Let all such parents remember that if 
they have a child whose organism is such as to 
cause him to thirst for knowledge, they do vio¬ 
lence to his nature either if they deprive him of 
the means of acquiring knowledge, or if they 
keep him so employed by day that he feels com¬ 
pelled to rob himself of sleep to satisfy the yearn¬ 
ings of his nature. 

BEDS AND BEDDING. 

The health of many people is most seriously, 
and often permanently, injured by inattention to 
their beds and bedding. Feather beds are very 
prolific sources of disease and hence ought not to 
be used. The feathers, being animal matter, 
are constantly undergoing decomposition, which 
is increased by the heat and moisture transmitted 
to them from the body, which causes them to 
send off noxious and poisonous gases, the result 
of putrefaction. These gases are absorbed and 


42 


HYGIENIC FAMILY TIIYSICIAN. 


taken into the system, thus engendering disease. 
Hair, straw, husks, shavings, cotton, or woo], is 
much better than feathers. Very soft beds are 
also objectionable. They should be as hard, and 
the bed-clothing should be as light, as may be 
with proper regard to comfort. On rising, in the 
morning, the bed should be left open for a few 
hours, exposed to the air, as it is filled with or¬ 
ganic impurities that have passed off from the 
body with the insensible perspiration. 

Beds should always be kept scrupulously clean 
by frequent change of the clothing. Mattresses, 
quilts, and blankets, as well as sheets, should be 
frequently cleansed. The practice of many peo¬ 
ple in allowing the same mattress to be slept up¬ 
on for years without cleansing is a most filthy 
and disease-producing one. 

Many people ha\^e taken colds that have re¬ 
sulted in death, while others have laid the foun¬ 
dation of a life-lasting disease by sleeping in 
damp, close rooms, or damp beds. If a room or 
bed has not been used for some time, both should 
be thoroughly aired before being occupied. 

BODILY HABITS. 

No person can enjoy comfortable health for 
any great length of time unless he is regular 
in all his bodily habits. The meals should be 
taken with regularity, and the hours for retiring 
and rising should vary as little as possible. It 


43 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 

is also equally important that the bowels should 
move regularly every day, and as nearly as pos¬ 
sible at the same hour each day. Many people, 
by neglecting this and disregarding the calls of 
nature, entirely destroy the natural regularity of 
this one of the excretory functions. This neglect 
is one of the first causes of constipation, and many 
other diseases, as piles, diarrhea, etc. 

BODILY POSITIONS. 

A person while sitting, standing, walking, or 
exercising, should always use care to preserve, 
as nearly as possible, an upright position of the 
body, keeping the head erect and the shoulders 
well thrown back. If the body is bent forward, 
the vital organs are compressed; and if it is bent 
sidewise, the spine is injured. 

Many persons forget that the hips are the 
proper place for bending the body, and they bend 
forward by crooking the trunk. Many parents 
allow their children to form a habit of sitting 
with the abdomen and stomach drawn in and the 
spine curved, with the shoulders drawn forward, 
and the head down. Such children will be very 
liable to dyspeptic difficulties and lung complaints. 
They will also become round shouldered and will 
make a very awkward appearance in society. A 
crooked person cannot look well. 

It is better that most people should sleep with¬ 
out pillows, or at least with very thin ones, un- 


44 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


less in the habit of sleeping upon the side. Chil¬ 
dren are often injured, and their spines distorted 
for life, by this habit. Those whose spines have 
become crooked by any of these causes should 
make persevering efforts to straighten themselves 
by always endeavoring to stand and sit erect. 
If they find themselves too feeble to do this lono- 

o 

at a time, they should change their position fre¬ 
quently. Work, sit, stand, lie down, etc., as often 
as either position becomes painful, but keep the 
shoulders back continually. 

MENTAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCES. 

Cheerfulness is greatly promotive of health, 
while sadness and melancholy are often precursors 
of disease, and are always detrimental to health. 
The influence of the mind over the physical con¬ 
ditions of the body is very great. An individual 
in good health may become diseased, and even 
die, through the sole influence of his own per¬ 
verted imagination. In fact, it is often the case 
that individuals who are but slightly ailing dwell 
upon their ailments, imagining themselves in a 
worse condition than they really are, and give 
way to their morbid feelings, until they finally 
induce the very conditions in which they imag¬ 
ine themselves to be, thus, by mental influence a- 
lone,bringing themselves to the brink of the grave. 

Again, many individuals who have^been 
most seriously ill, have recovered from their ill- 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


45 


ness when apparently beyond the reach of as¬ 
sistance. When inquiry is made concerning the 
cause of their recovery, it is found that they had 
great hope and cheerfulness, and an indomitable 
will that would not yield to discouragements, 
but which kept them ever hopeful and cheerful, 
which state of mind soon induced in their sys¬ 
tems a change for the better, which, after a time, 
resulted in their entire recovery. 

Cheerful companionship promotes health; while 
the society of persons who are fretful or despond¬ 
ing is liable to induce the same conditions in 
others and thereby bring them into a state in 
which they will be easily susceptible to the in¬ 
fluences of disease. For this reason, a person who 
would have health should seek the society of 
cheerful companions, and should also be cheerful 
himself, without worrying and fretting over that 
which he cannot avoid, or concerning which he 
knows nothing. lie should ever feel that if he 
faithfully performs all his duties, it will be safe 
for him to trust both himself and the conse¬ 
quences of his deeds with Him who sees the end 
from the beginning. He should also have an aim 
in life, a something to accomplish. Without this, 
he will have nothing to induce him to put forth 
effort and develop the full powers of his being. 

A person who passes listlessly through life, 
with no object to accomplish, and with no feeling 
of sympathy and love for his fellows, can never 


46 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


become fully developed; the brain and nerve tis¬ 
sues will not be properly matured because not 
sufficiently exercised, and the individual will be 
liable to pass finally into a state of semi-idiocy 
or of disease. Therefore, to be healthy, be cheer¬ 
ful, hopeful, sociable, energetic; aim high, and 
try to accomplish something. Make life a success. 

MORAL INFLUENCES. 

There can be no doubt but that moral influ¬ 
ences do many times affect the physical health 
of human beings. Inasmuch as health consists 
in the proper performance of all the organic func¬ 
tions—this is the definition given by all physi¬ 
ologists—it follows that if the human body pos¬ 
sesses organs whose special function it is to man¬ 
ifest moral action, and if those organs are allowed 
to lie dormant, or if they become perverted in 
their actions, then perfect health cannot exist. 
Tiiat man has sucii a set of organs, is evident 
from the lact that all men, in every age and 
mime, have had, and still have, standards or rules 
by which to measure morality or moral character. 
There never yet has been a nation that did not 
have some law by which to judge right from 
AYrong, neither has there ever been an intelligent 
human being that did not feel a consciousness 
that there was a difference between right and 
wrong. Why do men feel thus ? There can be 
but one answer; viz., because they have organs 


I1YGIENIC AGENTS. 


47 


whose special function it is to manifest this very 
feeling of conscientiousness. An additional proof 
is to be found in the fact that ail men are worship¬ 
ing beings. They instinctively acknowledge that 
there is a Supreme Being to whom they owe alle¬ 
giance, upon whom they are dependent for the va¬ 
rious blessings they enjoy, and whom they are in 
duty bound to respect. It is true that all men are 
not agreed as to who or what this Supreme Being 
is, yet that all classes and races of men do have this 
feeling is evident from the fact that they all have 
some form of religious worship, through the cere¬ 
monies of which they endeavor to make external 
manifestation of their religious sentiments. 

There is still another fact which teaches us that 
man has organs whose special function it is to 
manifest moral character. It is that all men are 
naturally hopeful. And although the present 
may be dark and gloomy and perilous, yet all 
lind consolation in hope of a better future. Con¬ 
scientiousness, veneration, and hope, are moral 
attributes, and it is the proper manifestation of 
these that constitutes man a moral being, and the 
improper manifestation of them that constitutes 
immorality. 

The fact that the proper exercise of man’s 
moral organs promotes health, while their per¬ 
verted action promotes disease, has led to the in¬ 
troduction of this subject in this connection. 

Man’s moral nature is his highest nature, and 


48 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


when this is appealed to, we have appealed to the 
highest motives by which he can be actuated. 
These moral organs control, to a very great ex¬ 
tent, all the other organs of the body. When 
these act rightly, there is very great probability 
that all the others will act rightly also; but if 
the moral organs become perverted in their ac¬ 
tions, there is greater liability of other organs be¬ 
coming perverted also, v 

That the moral organs do control the other 
brain organs to a very great extent, is shown by 
the fact that when these organs prompt a person 
to action, he will pass through and endure tenfold 
more suffering and privation in endeavoring to 
accomplish an object than he will when actuated 
by any other incentive. It matters not whether 
the action of the moral organs is normal or per¬ 
verted. They influence the other organs of the 
brain just as powerfully in the one case as in the 
other. It was this controlling power which moral 
organs exert over the other organs when acting 
in accordance with moral law that enabled the 
mai tyrs to subdue and control all feelings of self 
and family interest, and to rejoice, and even sing, 
while being consumed at the stake. It is the 
same moral influence that causes the missionary 
to sacrifice love of home, friends, worldly honors, 
emoluments, and pleasures, that he may accom¬ 
plish that which his moral organs make him feel 
it to bo his duty to do. 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


49 


That tliese organs, when perverted, exercise an 
equally powerful influence over the other organs 
is seen in the fact that, in obedience to perverted 
moral organs, the heathen mother casts her off¬ 
spring to the crocodiles, forgetful of all the ten¬ 
der sympathies and pity of a mother; the Hindoo 
devotee, forgetful of all self-interest, casts him¬ 
self beneath the wheels of Juggernaut; and the 
wife, forgetful of all life’s charms and duties, 
throws herself upon the funeral pyre, to consume 
with the body of her dead husband; while 
those who are more enlightened have been led 
by the same perverted organs to cut themselves 
with knives, to do penance, and to inflict, or 
cause to be inflicted, upon themselves all manner 
of bodily suffering; while those still more en¬ 
lightened, and who had previously occupied respec¬ 
table and responsible positions in society, have 
been led, by perverted moral organs, into the wild¬ 
est fanaticisms and to perform actions that could 
not be looked upon by enlightened beings other¬ 
wise than with the greatest disgust, and which no 
other influence than a perverted sense of moral 
duty could have induced them to perform. We 
have shown, in the preceding pages, that health 
was affected to a very great degree by our phys¬ 
ical habits, and as we now see that the moral or¬ 
gans are capable of controlling the other organs 
to that extent that life itself is often yielded 
rather than violate supposed moral obligation, 


50 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


it becomes evident that if we can bring our mor¬ 
al organs to bear on all our actions in life, we 
shall be far more successful in overcoming perni¬ 
cious habits, or in restraining ourselves from 
hurtful indulgences, than we could otherwise be. 
Therefore, if we would have health, we must 
have moral organs that act just as their Creator 
intended they should. Without this, we can no 
more have perfect health than we can if our 
liver or kidneys act in a manner different from 
that which the Creator intended. 

It will probably be claimed that, inasmuch as 
there is so great a diversity of opinion as to what 
is right and what is wrong, as manifested by the 
devotees of the various systems of religion in all 
ages, any attempt to bring in the moral organs to 
control and direct our physical habits must nec¬ 
essarily result in producing results equally as 
disastrous as those that have been produced in 
the religious world. This, we admit, would be 
apt to be the case unless the moral organs act 
normally, so as to exert just that influence over 
tne other organs that the Creator intended they 
should exert. But, while we admit this, we 
claim that if they are allowed to exert just that 
degree and quality of influence over the other 
organs which the Creator intended, the conse¬ 
quences cannot be other than salutary. It only 
it mains, now, for us to decide as to the normal 
actions of the moral organs, and then for us to 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 



strive to bring them into that condition where 
they shall at all times act properly. 

There exists a universal agreement among all 
men that there is a Supreme Being to whom 
man is indebted for life and all its blessings, and 
who is worthy of our highest love and adoration, 
and whom we are in duty bound to respect and 
obey. This feeling is the natural or instinctive 
action of the moral organs of every human being, 
hence the universal agreement to this proposi¬ 
tion. This is the first step. But in taking the 
after steps, men are not agreed. They do not 
agree as to who the Supreme Being is, nor in re¬ 
gard to what he requires. This is because 
man, having to learn all he ever knows, has been 
educated wrongly; and this being the case, who 
shall decide these matters ? Human reason is too 
short to do this, it can only be done by a revela¬ 
tion from the Being to whom our respect, love, 
and allegiance are due. 

The fact that man has organs of reflection, or 
is a thinking being who has to learn all that he 
ever knows, and the additional fact that he is a 
moral being who feels that he owes allegiance to 
a Supreme Being, makes it imperative that the 
Supreme Being should reveal both himself and 
his will to man; otherwise, man’s existence be¬ 
comes at once a libel on the Being that created 
him. Such a revelation man has in the Bible. 
This book has been given him that he may know 


52 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


just how to develop moral character. Its pre¬ 
cepts contain a statement of just the actions 
our moral organs ought to perform. The con¬ 
stant tenor of its teachings is that we ought to 
venerate, love, and obey the Creator of all things 
above all other beings or things, and that we 
ought to pay the same regard to the rights of 
others that we do to our own. In addition to 
this, they lay a ground-work of faith upon which 
we may build our hope of a future existence. 

When we properly educate our moral organs 
by the teachings of the revelation that has been 
given for their guidance, we will find that, when 
exercising their functions properly, they will pre¬ 
vent us from transgressing the laws of our being: 
for a moral sense of the right or wrong involved 
in the doing or leaving undone of an action is 
the very strongest influence that can be brought 
to bear upon an individual’s mind. 

Inasmuch, then, as moral principles are so inti¬ 
mately connected and interwoven with the prin¬ 
ciples on which life and health are based, it be¬ 
hooves all who w ould prolong their lives and 
health to a good old age, to become acquainted 
with every moral principle contained in God’s 
revealed will, and to let those principles guide 
and direct in the formation of every habit, and 
the performance of every action, of life. In 
other words, in all that you do, whether vou eat, 
or whether you drink, or whatever you do, do all 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


53 


to the glory of God. If you do this, you will 
certainly escape most of the ills to which flesh is 
heir; for as it is not to the glory of God for us 
to be sick, and weak, and suffering, it cannot be 
to his glory for us to do any of those things 
which will tend to bring us into such a condition. 

We conclude, then, that inasmuch as moral in¬ 
fluences, when allowed to have their proper bear¬ 
ing, are capable of exerting so powerful an influ¬ 
ence over the physical well-being of our bodies, 
and inasmuch as true morality is nothing more 
nor less than pure and undefiled Christianity, 
therefore, the first and most important step which 
a person seeking to place himself in the best pos¬ 
sible condition of health can, and should, take, is 
to become a humble, confiding child of God—a 
Christian, but not a sectarian. 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS. 

The health of individuals is often seriously af¬ 
fected by their material surroundings. All mias¬ 
matic emanations from damp or wet places, all ex¬ 
halations from cemeteries, all noxious gases rising 
from decaying animal or vegetable substances, or 
from animal excrements, are detrimental to health; 
hence the objects or substances from whence these 
arise may be sources of disease. 

A person who is of a naturally cheerful dispo¬ 
sition may be thrown into a state of gloom and 

Fam. Phys. D 


54 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


disquietude that will eventually result in sick¬ 
ness, and even death, simply by unpleasant sur¬ 
roundings. In fact, this has often been the case 
with persons who have been reared in pleasant 
homes, surrounded by bright flowers and shady 
trees, with picturesque scenery, where everything 
the eye beheld served to elevate the mind and in¬ 
spire the soul. When they came to change local¬ 
ities and settle on some monotonous prairie, or 
in some gloomy forest home, their minds became 
depressed, and disease soon followed. On the 
other hand, individuals living amidst disagreea¬ 
ble surroundings, and who have thus become 
sick, often recover health by simply changing 
their surroundings, so that everything shall be 
more agreeable to the external senses. 

Therefore, let all who would be healthy, and 
who would have their families healthy also, sur¬ 
round themselves with that which is beautiful 
and pleasant, make everything the eye shall rest 
upon as agreeable as possible, and carefully avoid 
locating the family residence near any marsh, 
frog pond, or pool of stagnant water. Never al¬ 
low stable or barnyard litter to accumulate where 
the effluvia emanating therefrom shall be wafted 
to your door by every breeze. See that no swill 
barrel, filthy pig-pen, or privy, shall send forth 
its disgusting and poisonous odors where they 
will be inhaled by any of your family. Plant 


HYGIENIC AGENTS. 


55 


here and there shrubs, trees, and flowers, to re¬ 
lieve the monotony of the scenery and greet the 
eye witli their rich foliage and enlivening colors, 
begetting in the mind cheering, noble, and ele¬ 
vating thoughts. Provide a comfortable house 
that shall be warm in winter, and cool as possi¬ 
ble in summer, as your residence. Keep the 
fences in repair and in order, so that whatever 
the eye beholds shall beget within the mind a 
feeling of contentment, and you will have done 
much to keep disease from your household. 

CONCLUSION. 

In view of the foregoing, we find that good 
health is not a condition that can exist independ¬ 
ent of governing circumstances or laws, but that 
it is a state of vital activity which is very liable 
to be interrupted by surrounding circumstances, 
and which is largely dependent upon the exist¬ 
ence of certain conditions that are within the 
control of human beings, and that these condi¬ 
tions are all met when we supply the body with 
pure air, light, pure soft water, wholesome food 
in proper amount and at proper times, tempera¬ 
ture of the right degree, clothing in proper amount 
and properly adjusted, exercise of the right kind 
and amount, proper rest and sleep, proper mental 
and social influences and external relations, and 
are actuated in all we do by the principle of love 
to God and love to man. When these conditions 


56 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


are all supplied, health follows as an inevitable 
consequence. 

In the preceding pages, the aim has been to 
state in a brief, yet concise, manner, the condi¬ 
tions upon which health is based. None of the 
subjects treated have been by any means ex¬ 
hausted, as the plan of this work would not per¬ 
mit us to devote any more space to them than 
has been done, though perhaps sufficient has 
been said to impress the reader with the impor¬ 
tance of carefully observing all the laws of hy¬ 
giene if he would preserve, even in a measure, 
that priceless and God-given boon —health. 
h>ut inasmuch as ninety-nine one-hundredths of 
civilized human beings are in a condition of dis¬ 
ease, and as it is the chief object of this work to 
meet the wants of this numerous class of suffer¬ 
ing individuals, the following pages are devoted 
to a description of the nature and cause of dis¬ 
ease and the so-called “ action ” of medicines, and 
also of the use and application of the bath and 
other hygienic agencies in the treatment of dis¬ 
ease, together with a description of its more com¬ 
mon forms, and the special modes of treatment 
which should be adopted in each case. 


PAET II. 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


NATURE AND CAUSE OF DISEASE, AND SO-CALLED 
“ACTION” OF DRUGS. 

Disease is abnormal vital action; hence, to 
fully understand the nature of disease, ifc is nec¬ 
essary to understand the actions of the various 
organs when in health. We may divide the vital 
organs into two classes, one of which digests the 
food and circulates it to all parts of the system, 
where it can be used for the purpose of nourish¬ 
ing and building up the body, while the other 
class gathers up the waste matters, broken-down 
tissues, and whatever else there may be in the 
system that is not usable, and casts the same out 
of the body. It can be seen at a glance that 
these two classes of organs must not only exist, 
and perform their work, but that there must be 
an exact balance in the work performed by them 
in order to insure health and prolong life. That 
is, the organs which supply nourishment to the 
tissues must supply just the requisite amount; 

otherwise, the bodv would decrease in size and 

( 57 ) 



58 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


strength. The organs that eliminate the impu¬ 
rities from the system must also be faithful in 
their work, and cast out all the broken-down tis¬ 
sues and other waste matters just as fast as they 
accumulate; should they fail to do this, there 
would be a clogging up of the entire system with 
these matters. When these two classes of actions 
are just balanced, the individual is in health. If, 
however, there is an unbalanced condition of 
these actions, for any cause, the individual is dis¬ 
eased. 

The law of self-preservation is the first law • 
that is obeyed by the vital organs ; and it is an 
attempt on the part of the organism to obey this 
law that constitutes disease. Hence, it is plain 
to be seen that disease is not a thing, is not an 
entity, but is vital action. In one sense, it is just 
as natural to be sick as it is to be well; that is, 
disease, or abnormal vital action, is just as much 
the work of nature as is health or normal vital 
action. Both are put forth for self-protection, for 
the purpose of preserving the life of the body. 
In health, the organs all act with reference to 
keeping the body just as it is. That is, the bro¬ 
ken-down tissues are removed as fast as they 
break down, and others are as promptly built up 
to take their place, all unusable matter being re¬ 
moved from the system as fast as it enters, with¬ 
out either increasing, diminishing, or in any way 


DISEASE AND DRUOS. 


59 


disturbing or unbalancing, the action of any 
organ. 

In disease, the actions of the various organs 
are all put forth in obedience to the law of self- 
preservation the same as in health, with the 
difference, however, that in disease the vital ac¬ 
tions are disturbed. They may be increased, di¬ 
minished, or otherwise unbalanced, according to 
varying circumstances and causes; yet these 
actions are all put forth for the purpose of self¬ 
protection—not, however, to keep the body as it 
then is, but for the purpose of restoring it to the 
condition in which it was before the special cause 
that occasioned the disturbed action was brought 
to bear upon the organism. Hence, disease is 
remedial effort. 

Whenever any action takes place in any part 
of the system, a certain amount of vital force is 
expended, and thus lost to the individual. This 
is because of the wearing out of some of the tis¬ 
sues of the part in exercise. This being the 
case, it is evident that all the vitality of the 
body would soon be expended unless some means 
was provided by which a constant supply might 
be furnished to the tissues. Such a supply is 
furnished by the blood, which is composed of 
water and organic matters derived from the 
food. 

When the vegetable builds itself up, it does so 
by taking certain elementary substances of the 


60 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


mineral kingdom, and transforming them into its 
own tissues, at the same time also transforming 
whatever force those elementary substances pos¬ 
sess into vegetable life, or vital force. Whenever 
man or beast eats vegetable food, certain elements 
of the vegetable are converted into flesh, and the 
vital force manifested as vegetable life is trans¬ 
formed into animal life. Now, as all the digested 
food becomes blood before being converted into 
flesh, and as the flesh loses its vitality by the 
wearing out of its tissues, it is evident that the 
life of the flesh is in the blood, and that the flesh 
may replenish its vitality by renewing its tissues. 
But before this can be done, the broken-down 
tissues must be removed, which is principally 
effected by their combustion, or oxidation, as ex¬ 
plained in the tract entitled “ Good Health,” to 
which the reader is referred. As there stated, 
these broken-down tissues are burned or oxid¬ 
ized by the oxygen received from the lungs, the 
carbonic-acid gas thus formed being immediately 
absorbed by the red corpuscles of the blood, and 
by them carried away, thus making room for the 
rebuilding of the tissues. 

The red blood corpuscles are not used as mate¬ 
rial for building up any part of the body, their 
sole office being to convey oxygen from the lungs 
to the capillaries for the purpose of consuming 
the broken-down tissues and then conveying the 
resultant carbonic-acid gas to the lungs for expul- 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


Cl 


sion. And by this process heat is generated in 
all parts of the system by the oxidation of the 
wastes of the body. 

As previously stated, it is very important that 
the worn-out tissues should not be permitted to 
accumulate, as by so doing they would hinder 
the rebuilding of the new tissues. To remove 
these with sufficient dispatch, a great amount of 
oxygen is required; so much, that a quantity of 
blood equal in volume to the whole amount con¬ 
tained in the body is sent to the lungs every 
three minutes for the purpose of throwing off the 
carbonic acid, and of receiving fresh supplies of 
oxygen. 

The truthfulness of the foregoing statement 
may be demonstrated in many ways. If a per¬ 
son with a pulse at seventy or eighty steps 
quickly up a flight of stairs, or runs for a short 
distance, or engages for a few moments in any 
very active exercise, he will find his pulse in¬ 
creased from ten to fifty beats per minute. What 
is the cause of this increased circulation ? Simply 
this: the tissues, in acting to perform the labors 
required of them, become worn; and as they can¬ 
not repair the wastes until this worn material 
has been removed, it is necessary for the blood 
to be sent to the lungs much more rapidly than 
on ordinary occasions. 

Thus we see why violent, or even active, ex¬ 
ercise will accelerate the circulation. The accu- 


62 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


mulation of worn-out material not only prevents 
the repairing of the tissues, but it also prevents 
them from manifesting any vitality. This we see 
whenever the supply of air to the lungs is cut 
off, or whenever the circulation of the blood 
ceases; for, in either of these conditions, the flesh 
begins to weaken, and almost instantly loses its 
strength, and life soon becomes extinct. These 
facts show the importance of a constantly full 
and unimpeded circulation of blood in every part 
of the human system if we would be free from 
disease; for if for any cause the capillary vessels 
in any part of the system become clogged, there 
must of necessity be a stoppage of the circulation 
in that part, and, consequently, it will be insuffi¬ 
ciently nourished, the wastes will be improperly 
removed, and the part will not be as active and 
strong as it would have been under other circum¬ 
stances. 

When any part of the system is clogged with 
unusable substances, or with retained excretions, 
or even by a distension of the blood-vessels, as in 
congestion, nature’s first law, self-protection, re¬ 
quires that an effort be made on the part of the 
organism to remove the obstruction. The effort 
which is thus put forth is disease. 

When the effort is slight, and does not differ 
much from the actions of the system when in 
health, the individual may not be aware that he 
is diseased; but if the effort is great, or manifests 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


63 


itself by any very marked symptoms, requiring 
any very great expenditure of vitality in their 
manifestation, then the individual becomes aware 
that he is sick. It sometimes happens that ob¬ 
structions to the circulation exist for a long time 
before any very great effort for their removal is 
put forth by the system. There may be two 
reasons for this. 1. The individual may have in¬ 
herited a feeble constitution; 2. He mav have 
lived under circumstances which caused the 
gradual yet constant reception into his system of 
the obstructing cause, which, not being cast out 
by a slightly increased activity of all the depu¬ 
rating organs, occasioned the accumulation of for¬ 
eign and effete matters, at the same time over¬ 
taxing some one or more organs, and thus caus¬ 
ing their capillaries to become relaxed, and dis¬ 
tended with impure blood. These organs soon 
ceased to perform their functions, and the entire 
system became clogged with the effete matter 
which should have been thrown off. The organic 
nervous system (which stands in the same rela¬ 
tion to the vital organs that the brain sustains 
to the organs of voluntary motion) then perceives 
that something is wrong, that there is something 
in the system which is not usable; they con¬ 
sequently call upon the entire system to act for 
the purpose of eradicating these foreign matters 
from the vital domain. 

The circulation may be clogged in various 


G4 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ways. The surface or extremities may be chilled, 
and the circulation in those parts thereby become 
impeded, or it may be checked by pressure, as in the 
wearing of tight elastics about the limbs, or corsets 
and belts about the waist, or obstructing substances 
from without may be introduced into the system. 
Any effort on the part of the system to remedy 
the evil, or to remove the obstruction, is in exact 
accordance with the principle of self-preservation, 
and is, consequently, a natural action; yet, inas¬ 
much as it differs from the usual actions of the 
vital organs, it is an abnormal, unusual, or dis¬ 
eased action. 

There is another class of causes which occasion 
disease although they do not materially clog the 
system with their own substance. This class is 
by far the most fruitful source of disease of any 
that can be named. It comprises all the poisons 
of the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, 
and includes both those which are taken into 
the system from without, and those that are 
engendered within the body. Many of the poi¬ 
sons taken into the system from without, occasion 
immediate and prostrating diseases; and, not 
infrequently, sudden death follows their reception 
into the body. Others do not immediately oc¬ 
casion any serious or marked disturbance of the 
action of the various organs. The manner in 
which these poisons occasion disease is a matter 
which all should understand, for if they do not 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


C5 


understand liow disease is occasioned, they can¬ 
not understand how it should be treated; while 
a person who fully understands the nature and 
cause of a disease will be better able to discern 
the mode of treatment to be adopted to effect a 
cure. 

Of poisons that enter the system from with¬ 
out, perhaps none will better illustrate the 
subject than the malaria which arises from the 
decomposing vegetation of swamps, marshes, and 
other low, wet places. This malarious poison may 
arise from a cliicken-yard, or barn-yard, or pig-pen, 
or heap of stable litter, or from a cess-pool, a privy- 
vault, or a swill barrel. It matters not whence 
it comes, whether from decaying vegetables in 
the cellar, under the house, or from the mill-pond; 
from whatever source such emanations arise, they 
mingle with the atmosphere, and are taken with 
the inhaled air into the systems of those who live 
in the vicinity where these poisonous germs are 
originated and diffused. If very little of the 
poison is inhaled, or if the person inhaling it has 
a strong constitution, it will be readily passed 
out by the organs of depuration without causing 
any great disturbance of the vital actions; con¬ 
sequently, no apparent disease is occasioned. The 
same is true of all kinds of poisons if taken in 
sufficiently minute quantities; but no person can 
tell how small a dose may occasion serious dis¬ 
ease, or even death, for the reason that the con- 


66 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


dition of the system is constantly changing, and 
an amount of poison which at one time, and un¬ 
der one set of circumstances, would result in no 
serious difficulty, may at another time, under 
different circumstances, produce not onty serious 
disease, hut even death. 

When a small amount of poison is taken into 
the system continuously for any considerable 
length of time, some of the organs of depuration 
become first weary, then weak, and soon they 
fail to do their share of the work, and the system 
becomes clogged, not so much, however, with the 
poison taken into the system as with the effete 
matters which the disabled organs should have 
cast out. 

As some of the organs stop to rest, or, through 
overwork, fail to do their share of the work of 
keeping the body free from effete matters, other 
organs are called into increased activity to re¬ 
move the causes of obstruction that have accu¬ 
mulated within the system, and this overwork, 
this increased activity, this remedial effort, is 
disease. 

HOW TO TREAT DISEASE. 

Shall we give medicines to the sick? All 
medicines are poisons, and all of them act in 
precisely the same manner as do the causes of 
disease; at least, so say the professors of materia 
medica in all the medical colleges in the land; 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


67 


and they claim to cure one disease by producing 
another. It is evident that, in attempting to 
cure a disease, we should always seek to remove 
the cause. W e have found that disease is always 
occasioned either by poisons engendered within 
the system—retained excretions—or by poisons 
taken into it from without, which may be of ei¬ 
ther mineral, vegetable, or animal origin. Now, 
in case an individual has retained excretions, or 
has taken into his body some poison, what shall 
be done for him ? Shall we give him some other 
poison ? This we shall certainly do if we give 
him medicines; for all medicines are poisons, 
and the doctors say, “ The strongest poisons are 
our best remedies.” I am aware that many of 
my readers will be surprised when I tell them 
that the mildest form of medicine, be it simply a 
cup of tea, or of catnip, or of sage, or any other 
form of herb drink, or any one of the five thou¬ 
sand drugs and compounds which are given the 
sick, if it produces what the doctors call a me¬ 
dicinal effect, it is because it contains a certain 
amount of poison; for the so-called medicinal 
effect of all medicines and poisons is simply an 
act on the part of the system to reject the medi¬ 
cine or poison and to cast it out. 

Take, for instance, the common tea of China. 
This herb yields a certain extract called tlieine. 
A few pounds of genuine tea will yield quite an 
amount of this extract, which if taken in large 


G8 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


closes will occasion death. So with the herb 
known as peppermint. It yields a volatile oil 
(the oil of peppermint) wdiich will also cause 
death if taken in large doses. The same is true 
of all the herbs that are given as medicine. 
Their poisons may be extracted and taken in 
sufficiently large doses to occasion death; yet 
none of these, when taken in small doses, and at 
long intervals, will occasion any serious difficulty, 
but on the other hand, if taken in doses of proper 
size, would actually afford pleasurable sensations. 
Common tea, if used daily, even of moderate 
strength, will seriously injure the vital machin¬ 
ery by the constant labor which the various or¬ 
gans are obliged to perform in casting the poi¬ 
sonous ingredient out of the system. 

It is true that herb medicines are generally 
much less injurious in their effects than are the 
chemical compounds of the mineral poisons, or 
the viruses, excrements, and various other ani¬ 
mal substances that are in general use as reme¬ 
dies by the medical faculty. It is also true that 
of these vegetable medicines, many roots, barks, 
leaves, flowers, and herbs, may be named that 
possess properties so slightly poisonous that they 
can hardly be classed as poisons; yet if they oc¬ 
casion any medicinal effect, it is simply because 
the little poison they do contain is recognized 
and resisted by the system in precisely the same 
manner that other poisons are. But, in such 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


60 


cases, the amount of poison is so small that the 
action induced is very slight; and, consequently, 
no great injury results from their use unless it 
becomes habitual. Hence, we say, to those who 
will use medicine of some kind, Use only the 
plants and herbs of the field, as by so doing you 
will suffer little damage, although you may re¬ 
ceive no good. 

If a person is sick, the cause of his sickness 
may be retained excretions which have become 
poisonous by changes which have taken place in 
them while in the system, or which are simply 
clogs in the way of the circulation, or it may be 
some poison that has been taken from without. 
In either case, the disease which is occasioned is 
simply an effort on the part of the organism to 
expel the poison. Now, shall we give another 
poison ? if so, what good will it do ? It is sim¬ 
ply adding a second unusable substance to those 
already in the system, and if it is recognized by 
the vital organism, it will be repelled in a manner 
essentially similar to that in which was the first. 
It is true, however, that in repelling the second 
poison the effort to expel the first may be sus¬ 
pended for a time, and that, if the suspension be 
continued sufficiently long for an organic change 
to take place in the organ previously diseased, 
the first disease may not recur, even when the 
second poison has been expelled; but such cases 

Fam, Thys. () 


70 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


are very rare, and when they do occur, it is almost 
invariably the case that the diseased action in¬ 
duced by the medicine results in the most serious, 
and perhaps permanent, injury to the individual. 

To make the matter plain, suppose that a per¬ 
son has inhaled miasmatic poisons for a long time. 
At first, he experiences no ill effects. This is be¬ 
cause the depurating organs, being strong and 
active, can do the work of expelling the poison 
in addition to their customary work, which was 
to excrete the ashes or waste matters resulting 
from the breaking down of the tissues. After a 
time, this continuous overwork reduces the vital¬ 
ity somewhat, and one, or more, of the long over¬ 
worked organs becomes impaired, and is no longer 
able to perform its functions; or it becomes so 
congested with blood and swollen that action is 
impossible, their tissues also becoming either soft 
and flaccid, or hard and indurated. 

We will suppose that it is the liver which has 
thus ceased its action; as the result, the bile ele¬ 
ment, which is usually cast out by the liver, is 
retained in the system, as in jaundice and many 
other diseases. As the bile element is constantly 
accumulating, the whole system soon becomes 
filled with it. If the liver fails to act, the blood 
gradually becomes impure, and, in a short time, 
instead of pure, healthy blood being sent to the 
tissues, to impart to them strength and vitality, 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


71 


the life fluid is contaminated by the putrid bile 
elements which should have been excreted and 
removed from the body, and the tissues become 
clogged, and thus unable to act, so that life soon 
becomes extinct. 

We now see how the inhaling of malarious poi¬ 
sons causes the clogging up of the system. It 
is not by any act of their own, nor by their own 
bulk; but the depurating organs (that is, those 
which separate impurities from the blood), be¬ 
come worn out, and fail to perform their usual 
work of renovating the wastes of the body, so 
that the system becomes filled with them. Some¬ 
thing of an idea of the amount of waste mate¬ 
rial that is produced in the system may be ob¬ 
tained by considering the amount of food which 
is daily required to supply the place of that 
which has become worn out. As these impuri¬ 
ties accumulate in the system, their presence is 
recognized by the organic nervous system, which 
is composed of between thirty and forty pairs of 
brain ganglia or nerve centers, which preside over 
the functions of organic life just as the brain 
proper, which is the center of animal life, con¬ 
trols the organs of voluntary motion. The brain 
ganglia, recognizing that something is wrong, in¬ 
duce action in the vital organs for the purpose of 
removing the poisonous substances from the 
blood. At first, there is merely a slightly in¬ 
creased activity of each organ. The circulatory 


72 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


organs work a little faster in carrying the blood 
to the organs of depuration; the kidneys, by 
their increased action, throw out a larger quan¬ 
tity of serum, and with it whatever it may hold 
in solution; and so with all the depurating or¬ 
gans. Soon there is a general disturbance in the 
system. The individual feels uncomfortable, is 
weak, in fact, is sick. The doctor is called, feels 
his pulse, and finds that it is ninety or one hun¬ 
dred beats per minute. The flesh is hot, the 
tongue coated, the breath offensive, and he pro¬ 
nounces it a case of fever. He orders, first, a 
purgative, “ to cause the bowels to act,” or an 
emetic, to “act upon the stomach.” Then a di¬ 
uretic “ to cause the kidneys to act,” then dia¬ 
phoretics to cause sweating. If these poisons do 
not “ cure ” the disease, he will give alteratives, 
to change its form, or depletents, to lessen the 
vitality if the fever is too high; or, if the patient 
is failing in strength, he will give tonics to tone 
up the system; if he is so weak that he does not 
“ respond ” to the tonic, then stimulants are 
given, and, finally, if the patient is not likely to re¬ 
cover, and is in much pain, narcotics are given to 
destioy the sensibilities so that he may die easily. 
All the way through, the doctor watches the' 
symptoms and medicates them.} that is, he gives 
medicines which so change the patient’s condi¬ 
tion that he no longer manifests the particular 
symptom. Instead of ascertaining what is the 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


73 


cause of the symptom, and removing that, he gives 
a poison which experience has taught him will 
stop that symptom, and this he gives regardless 
of future consequences, and without inquiring 
whether some new complication may not result 
which will be more injurious to the patient than 
the first disease, his sole object being to so change 
the disease that the present s3uuptoms shall be 
no longer manifested. Every one of the medi¬ 
cines given, is a poison; and although they cure 
the disease for which they are administered, they 
do not remove the cause of the disease, but only 
occasion an action in the system to expel these 
very medicines, thus detracting the attention of 
the vital organs from the remedial effort in which 
they were engaged. 

As the medicines enter the system and are ab¬ 
sorbed, their presence is recognized by the brain 
ganglia in the same manner that the nutriment, 
and the wastes, of the body are recognized. These 
brain ganglia discover that the medicine cannot 
be used to replenish any of the tissues of the 
body, and, consequently, that it can be of no pos¬ 
sible use, and should be removed as soon as 
may be. To accomplish this, they direct the 
depurating organs to exercise their functions up¬ 
on this new poison; and as the attention of the 
brain ganglia is directed to the new poison, they 
lose sight, as it were, of the first, and, conse¬ 
quently, the actions to get rid of the first poison 


74 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


are suspended, so that the attending symptoms 
cease to be manifested; but inasmuch as a new 
set of actions has been set up, new symptoms 
make their appearance. Thus we find it to be 
true that the drug doctors cure one disease by 
producing another. 

The reason why one poison occasions an ex¬ 
cessive excretion of urine, and another a powerful 
operation of the bowels, while a third occasions 
profuse sweating, and a fourth a copious expec¬ 
toration, is because the brain ganglia differ in 
their powers of recognition, just as the nerves of 
the five senses differ, the one from the other. 
The mental perceptions are purely functions of 
the brain, while the vital instincts, or vital per¬ 
ceptions, are purely the functions of the brain 
ganglia, or nerve centers of the organic nervous 
system. The brain perceives, or recognizes, things 
through the five organs of sense. Through the 
eye, and by means of the optic nerve which is 
distributed in the eye, the brain is enabled to 
peiceive the color, shape, and position, of things. 
Through the olfactory nerve, in the nose, it per¬ 
ceives, or recognizes, the various odors of things. 
Through the gustatory nerve, or nerve of taste, 
it recognizes the gustatory qualities, or the taste, 
of things. Through the nerve of hearing, it rec- 
ognizes vaiious sounds and musical tones. And 
through the nerves of feeling, it recognizes‘the 
texture, structure, size, weight, and various other 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


75 


physical properties of objects. We see that each 
of the five senses recognizes peculiar properties of 
matter. A person cannot hear the color of things, 
nor taste with the nerve of sight, nor smell with 
the nerve of hearing, nor feel with the nerve of 
taste. Each of these organs differs from each of 
the others, so that the brain recognizes through 
one what it does not through others. 

As before stated, there are between thirty and 
forty pairs of the brain ganglia in the organic 
nervous system. They are situated along either 
side of the spinal column, and it is these brain 
ganglia that have the power of vital perception, 
or recognition, usually known as the vital in¬ 
stincts. These various brain ganglia send out 
nerves to the vital organs, and through those 
nerves perceive, or recognize, the quality of the 
blood and certain properties of its ingredients, as 
it passes through the various organs to which 
these nerves are distributed. These brain gan¬ 
glia differ in their vital perceptions, just as va¬ 
rious parts of the brain differ in mental percep¬ 
tions, one part hearing, another part seeing, an¬ 
other feeling, another tasting, and still another 
smelling. One of the brain ganglia recognizes 
certain properties, or qualities, of matter, and an¬ 
other, certain other properties of matter. As be¬ 
fore stated, it is this difference in the vital per¬ 
ceptions of these brain ganglia that causes the 
various organs of depuration to excrete difiteient 


76 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


substances from the blood. The reader will need 
to study this part of the subject closely, as an 
understanding of the nature of vital recognition 
and vital action will enable him to understand 
fully why and how drugs affect the system. 

As before stated, these brain ganglia preside 
over, and direct, the vital organs in their actions. 
One set preside over the organs of digestion and 
circulation; and when any substance is received 
into the alimentary canal which is usable in the 
building up of the tissues, this portion of the 
brain ganglia directs the proper organs to digest, 
circulate, and make use of it. Others of the 
brain ganglia preside over the kidneys, and dis¬ 
tribute to them their nerves; so that as the blood 
circulates in them, it comes in contact with these 
nerves, through which the ganglia perceives cer¬ 
tain unusable substances in the blood, and causes 
the kidneys to separate them from it. These sub¬ 
stances are the saline matters which are held in 
solution in the blood. 

Another set of the brain ganglia preside over 
the liver, and perceive other unusable substances 
in the blood. They accordingly direct the liver 
to separate those substances from the blood, 
which, by so doing, produces the bile or gall. 

Another set of ganglia preside over the mu¬ 
cous membrane of the intestines, and direct in 
the separation of certain other unusable matters; 
while another set preside over the sweat glands 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


77 


of the skin ; directing in the work of separating 
still other matters from the blood ; and still an¬ 
other set preside over the lungs, directing in the 
throwing out of still other unusable matters. 

Thus, we have the urine excreted by the kid¬ 
neys, the bile by the liver, the carbonic-acid gas 
by the lungs, the perspiration by the sweat 
glands, and the fecal matter by the mucous mem¬ 
brane of the intestines. All matter does not pos¬ 
sess the same sensible properties; if it did, we 
would know of but one kind of matter. As it is, 
we can, through the various senses, recognize va¬ 
rious properties of matter, and are thus enabled 
to distinguish one object from another. Many 
kinds of matter possess properties which our 
mental faculties are not able to perceive. Some 
forms of matter that appear, to our external 
senses, just like certain other kinds of matter, are 
found, when taken into the system, to occasion 
entirely different effects. Again, certain articles 
when taken into the system are found to serious¬ 
ly affect one organ, or set of organs, while all the 
other organs remain unaffected. If, however, 
some other articles are taken into the system, 
some other organs are affected, while those which 
were affected by the first class of articles remain 
unaffected by the last. 

The person who can understand the reason of 
this will be able to understand the whole sub¬ 
ject of the nature and cause of disease, and 


78 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


why and how certain effects are occasioned by 
the taking of drugs. He will also be able to an¬ 
swer the question whether we shall give a sick 
man medicines; whether we shall give a man 
poison because he already has poison in his sys¬ 
tem. A man eats an apple, a piece of bread, or 
some other article of food, and that is the last he 
feels, thinks, or knows, about it. It is digested, 
formed into blood, and circulated through his 
. body, and is eventually converted into flesh and 
bone, nerve and sinew; yet he remains wholly 
unconscious of the changes that take place in it, 
or of the means by which these changes are ac¬ 
complished, that is, so far as his mental percep¬ 
tions at the time are concerned. Now let the 
same individual take into his stomach a dose of 
tartar emetic, a little tobacco, or a dose of lobelia; 
how differently he is affected! Instead of being 
strengthened and nourished, he feels very sick, 
and presently vomits, continuing so to do until 
the stomach is entirely emptied of its contents. 
Give him a dose of epsom salts, croton oil, aloes, 
rhubarb, or castor oil; what is the effect ? These 
substances are not digested and used as nourish¬ 
ment, neither do they induce vomiting ; but they 
occasion a very copious and offensive discharge 
from the bowels. Give him spirits of nitre, salt¬ 
peter, squill, digitalis, or turpentine, and copious 
urination will be the result. Give him other 
medicines, and profuse sweating will result. Give 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


79 


him still others, and he will expectorate freely. 
If each of the medicines named above is given in 
proper doses, it will occasion the effect named, 
and no other. 

Why do not apples cause vomiting, and bread, 
purging ? Why do not boiled or baked potatoes 
cause sweating,and rice,frequent and copious urin¬ 
ation ? Why does not squill cause vomiting, and 
tartar emetic, purging ? Why does not rhubarb 
or aloes cause sweating ? Why do these various 
medicines occasion certain special effects in par¬ 
ticular organs ? Many doctors of medicine inform 
us that it is because certain medicines have a spe¬ 
cial affinity for certain organs; and that “ the 
medicine goes through the system seeking out 
from choice those organs and tissues on which it 
can make its impression.” Thus they ascribe to 
drugs a species of intelligence. Right here is 
where almost the entire medical faculty stumble. 
Instead of medicines having special affinities for 
certain organs and tissues of the body, the vital 
organism has a special dislike for drugs, and 
makes a special effort to expel them as rapidly as 
possible. It endeavors, through the kidneys, to 
get rid of all those medicines that are known as 
diuretics; through the sweat glands to get rid of 
the diaphoretics; through the intestines to get 
rid of the purgatives and cathartics ; through the 
lungs to get rid of the expectorants, and thiough 
the stomach to get rid of the emetics. Could the 


80 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


doctors understand this, they would see that 
drugs are dead, inert things, and that the action 
is all on the part of the living organism. And 
yet the whole subject may be made so plain that 
a child of twelve years can understand it. 

When food is taken into the stomach, it comes 
in contact with the nerves of organic life which 
are distributed to the mucous membrane of the 
stomach, as also to all the vital organs. As the 
food comes in contact with these nerves, the brain 
ganglia that preside over the functions of the 
stomach perceive through them, just as the brain 
perceives through the nerves of feeling, that the 
food is a substance which has certain properties 
that adapt it to the use of the system in building 
up and maintaining the tissues. Recognizing 
this, the brain ganglia direct, or cause, the stom¬ 
ach to digest it, just as the brain wills the hand 
to pick up a book or do other work. After the 
food is digested, the proper organs are directed 
by the nerve center having them in charge to ab¬ 
sorb and circulate it to all parts of the system. 
While this digested food, which has now become 
blood, is passing through the capillaries, the brain 
ganglia which have charge over the building up 
of the tissues direct them to make use of a por¬ 
tion of it to repair or rebuild themselves, as the 
case may require. 

When the tartar emetic is taken into the stom¬ 
ach, the brain ganglia which have charge over 


disea.se and drugs. 


81 


that organ perceive or recognize through their 
nerves that a substance has entered the stomach 
which is not adapted to the wants of the system. 
They perceive that the properties of the tartar 
emetic are so unlike the character of the matter 
of which the body is composed that it cannot be 
used. Now as it is the special function of these 
brain ganglia to accept whatever is usable that 
enters the stomach, and to reject whatever is un¬ 
usable, they cause the stomach and abdominal 
muscles to contract spasmodically, thus forcing 
the contents of the stomach up through the 
oesophagus, by this means emptying the stomach 
of its contents. This expulsory action is termed 
vomiting. 

Now what part did the tartar emetic act in 
this whole matter ? None whatever. It was a 
dead, inert thing, incapable of the slightest action. 
Living hands placed it in the mouth, living or¬ 
gans of deglutition swallowed it, or forced it down 
into the stomach. There it was recognized as 
an unusable thing, and a spasmodic contraction 
of living muscles forced it out of the system. In 
this case, the vomiting was an act of self-protec¬ 
tion. The vital organism acted in an unusual 
manner to get rid of the poison (the tartar emet¬ 
ic), and the unusual, disturbed action, the reme¬ 
dial effort, the vomiting, was disease. It is in 
the same manner that all that class of medicines 
known as emetics are recognized and acted upon 


82 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


by the system. They are not allowed to enter 
the circulation, but are ejected before being ab¬ 
sorbed. Suppose a child has eaten some indi¬ 
gestible substance, such as old cheese or green 
apples; its stomach tries to digest it, and finding 
it to be difficult of digestion, we will suppose, 
from insufficient mastication, it contracts upon it 
with greater force, in order to crush or pulverize 
it so that the gastric juice can thoroughly per¬ 
meate and so digest it. This contraction causes 
pain or cramp, and the child becomes very sick; 
yet the disease is simply an effort on the part of 
the stomach to remedy the evils resulting from 
swallowing food half masticated. If the stom¬ 
ach succeeds in grinding the food, then the con¬ 
tractions cease, the disease is ended, and the child 
is well. If, however, it does not succeed, the 
brain ganglia which have charge of the stomach 
notify other ganglia which have charge over the 
entire muscular system, and they are called into 
action, and the child has convulsions. Now, what 
are these convulsions ? They are simply the con¬ 
tractions of various muscles which act in obedi¬ 
ence to the nerve centers which preside over 
them, and which have perceived that something 
which is not usable in its present condition is in 
the system, and these various muscles are directed 
to contract so as to help remedy the evil. 

It must be remembered that the brain ganglia, 
01 neive centers, are not intelligent. They sim- 





DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


83 


ply discover that something is wrong, and, mak¬ 
ing this discovery, set the organs over which they 
respectively preside, at work to remedy the diffi¬ 
culty. It must also he remembered that the or¬ 
gans over which these nerve centers preside, can 
only act, each in its own manner, and that while 
they may not accomplish anything whatever to¬ 
ward remedying the existing evil, or in removing 
the obstruction, the action is nevertheless induced 
for that purpose. Many a child has convulsions 
which are caused by the presence of indigestible 
food in its stomach, and although the effort is un¬ 
successful, yet it was put forth solety as a reme¬ 
dial effort. The nerve centers, finding that the 
contractions of the muscular coats of the stom¬ 
ach were insufficient to crush the unchewed food, 
call the entire muscular system into action; think¬ 
ing, so to speak, that by one powerful effort it 
may accomplish its object. We will suppose that 
a doctor has been called to see a case of convul¬ 
sions caused in the manner described. He gives 
an emetic, which produces vomiting, as before 
described, at the same time causing a most deathly 
feeling in the patient, which is only relieved when 
the contents of the stomach have been expelled. 
Thus he cures one disease by producing another. 
In this case, however, the cause of the first dis¬ 
ease was removed, and had there been no other 
way to remove it, the giving of the emetic would 
have been proper, although the new disease was 


84 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


the cause of much distress. But there is a better 
way than the giving of poisons. Give the child 
a few glasses of warm water, not hot, then tickle 
its throat, and the stomach will void its contents 
with very little distress or discomfort to the child. 

We will now take some one of that class of 
medicines that are said to act directly on the 
kidneys, and are known as diuretics. The prop¬ 
erties of this class of poisons are not recognized 
by the nerve centers which preside over the 
stomach, hence, vomiting does not occur. The 
poisons are dissolved and mingled with the fluids 
of the stomach, and are absorbed and passed di¬ 
rectly into the circulation, being then carried to 
all parts of the system in the blood without do¬ 
ing any harm or causing any disturbance until 
they reach the kidneys. Immediately upon so 
doing, they come in contact with the nerves which 
are freely distributed there, and through these 
nerves, the brain ganglia having charge over the 
work of the kidneys, which have the power of 
recognizing this class of poisons, perceive that 
something is mingled with the blood which is not 
usable in the system, and so they excite the 
kidneys to increased activity in excreting and 
separating this poison from the blood. Why did 
not these diuretics occasion vomiting ? Simply 
because they were not recognizable by the nerve 
centers which preside over the stomach. 

Let us now examine that class of medicines 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


85 


known as purgatives. Why is it that these do 
not occasion vomiting, nor increased action of the 
kidneys, nor sweating ? It is because these poi¬ 
sons have no properties that are recognizable by 
the nerve centers which preside over the stom¬ 
ach, kidneys, and sweat glands. But they do 
possess properties that are recognized by the 
nerve centers which preside over the mucous 
membrane of the intestines, and the minute 
structures of this membrane are set at work to 
throw these poisons out of the system, which 
they do by separating them from the blood, to¬ 
gether with some of the serum, all of which is 
thrown into the cavity of the intestine. As these 
substances accumulate, their weight or presence 
induces a peristaltic movement of the bowels 
which casts them, and whatever fecal matter may 
be present, out of the body. 

It is in this manner that drugs, medicines, and 
poisons of every kind occasion unusual vital ac¬ 
tion in the various organs of the body; and this ac¬ 
tion is disease. The professors of materia medica 
in the various medical colleges are right when 
they say that “medicines when in the human 
system act as do the causes of disease,” and that 
“ medicines cure one disease by producing an¬ 
other.” In order that the reader may fully un¬ 
derstand this matter, we will recapitulate a few 
of the propositions already laid down. 


86 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


1. In all the relations between living and dead 
matter, the living only is active. 

2. There are two classes of perceptive organs 
in the body. 1. The brain, to which belong the 
functions of mental perceptivity; 2. The brain 
ganglia or nerve centers of the organic nervous 
system, to which belong the functions of vital 
perceptivity. 

3. The brain takes cognizance of things exter- 
nal to the body whether they are in contact with 
the body or not; while the brain ganglia take 
cognizance of those things only which are within 
the system, and are in contact with the nerves 
of organic life. The brain induces action in the 
organs of voluntary motion, and causes them to 
act in accordance with its recognition of external 
objects no matter whether its recognition is cor¬ 
rect or not, thus leading a man to treat his mor¬ 
tal enemy with the greatest kindness if he comes 
to him in the disguise of a friend, but causing him 
to quickly ciiange his conduct toward him when 
his true character becomes known. Thus we see 
that all the voluntary motions of our bodies ex¬ 
actly correspond to our mental recognitions. The 
brain does not recognize the properties or condi¬ 
tions of substances or organs within the body, 
and has no control over the vital organs, as they 
act involuntarily. 

4. The brain ganglia to which belong the 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


87 


power and function of vital perceptivity, or vital 
recognition, differ in their perceptive powers so 
that while one set perceive one class of substances, 
another set perceive another class. These gan¬ 
glia induce actions in the various organs over 
which they preside; and those actions always 
correspond to, or are in accordance with, the vital 
perceptions, so that if a substance within the 
system is recognized as being usable, there is an 
effort made to use it; or if it is recognized as not 
usable, there is an effort made to expel it. 

5. The nerve centers, or brain ganglia, have 
every organ and tissue of the body under their 
control, so that even the organs of voluntary 
motion at times act without the control of the 
will, being directed by the nerve centers instead 
of the brain. 

6. Whenever a nerve center recognizes any¬ 
thing in the system that is not usable, the organ, 
or organs, over which that special nerve center 
presides, is set at work for the purpose of expel¬ 
ling the poison. 

Whether the efforts of the organ thus acting to 
expel the poison are successful or not depends 
wholly upon the nature of the work usually per¬ 
formed by the organ. If the organ thus acting 
is a depurating organ, it will remove the morbid 
matter or poison from the system, and the ef¬ 
fort will be successful ; but if some other organ 
is called into action, the effort will be unsuccess- 


88 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ful. Wliat has thus far been presented, is with¬ 
out doubt clear to the reader; but right here we 
come to a point which it is hard to make the 
doctors understand, and which may appear hard 
for the common people to understand. The que¬ 
ry is often raised, If disease is remedial effort, 
why do people die of disease ? why are not these 
remedial efforts successful ? To this it may be 
replied, While it is true that the nerve centers 
possess the property of vital perception, they do 
not possess intelligence. They cannot reason 
from cause to effect; they can only distinguish 
between those substances in the system that are 
usable, and those that are not usable. As al- 
ready shown, whenever a nerve center discovers 
that there is something in the system that is not 
usable, it induces an action in the organ over 
which it presides, to remove that substance from 
the body. If the nerve center that presides over 
the stomach discovers an obnoxious substance in 
that organ, vomiting is induced to get rid of it, 
and the effort is successful. If the nerve center 
that presides over the liver makes the discovery 
that some obnoxious or unusable substance is in 
the system, the liver is influenced to increase its 
action, and as a consequence, more than the 
usual amount of bile is excreted. If the nerve 
centers that control the action of the kidneys 
make the discovery, the kidneys will work faster, 
and more urine will be excreted. The same 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


89 


principle applies, also, to the other depurat¬ 
ing organs, each of which performs its proper 
work when called into action by the presence in 
the system of those substances which it is its 
peculiar function to remove. If the nerve cen¬ 
ters which preside over the mucous membranes 
of the intestines make the discovery, the excret¬ 
ing cells of this membrane will be set at work, 
and there will be an accumulation of fecal matter 
in the intestine. 

If it is the nerve center that presides over the 
mucous membrane of the air tubes and cells, there 
will be a greater amount of mucus, or phlegm, 
thrown out into the passages. In each of these 
cases, the effort is more or less successful, because 
the organs through which the effort is made, are 
organs whose special function it is to eliminate 
impurities from the system. If, however, the 
nerve centers which preside over the circulatory 
organs become acquainted with the fact that 
there is unusuable material in the system, they 
induce increased activity in the circulatory or¬ 
gans and the blood circulates faster, as may be 
readily seen by the changed condition of the 
pulse; but no impurities are thrown out; for this 
is not the function of the circulatory organs. If 
the nerve centers that preside over the salivary 
glands are the ones that recognize the poison, or 
if thev, through the nerves that connect them 
with other nerve centers, learn from those centers 


90 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


that such unusable substances are in the system, 
there will be an action induced in the salivary 
glands to expel the poisons; but the effort would 
be unsuccessful; for the work of depuration is 
no part of the functions of the salivary glands; 
they can only secrete saliva. The muscles can 
only contract; hence, if the nerve center that 
presides over the muscles becomes acquainted with 
the fact of the presence of poisons, or unusable 
substances, in the system, they, acting in accord¬ 
ance with the law of self-preservation, induce in¬ 
voluntary contraction of the muscular fibers, and 
cramp or convulsion follows. In this case the 
cramp or convulsion is not successful in purifying 
the system; for the muscles are not organs 
through which depuration can take place ; yet 
the effort that is made through them is remedial 
effort. Hence, it is claimed that all disease is 
remedial effort whether it is successful or not. 

There are poisons which have many properties, 
some of which are recognized by one set of nerve 
centers, and some by others; so that one poison 
will often induce action in several organs. This 
is only because several organs are set about the 
work of eliminating that poison. Another fact 
worthy of consideration is that all of the brain 
ganglia are connected, the one with another, by 
an intricate net-work of nerves which also con¬ 
nects them with the brain. Whenever any one of 
these ganglia perceives that there is something 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


91 


in tlie system which is not usable, and which it 
cannot remove, it has then the power to notify 
another one of the ganglia, and procure its assist¬ 
ance, which is rendered by setting the organ over 
which it presides at work. 

Perhaps the disease known as gout, or rheuma¬ 
tism, will illustrate this subject better than any 
other. 

Gout is a disease of the joints of the toes. 
Mineral matters, either acid or alkaline in their 
nature, exist in the blood; and as these sub¬ 
stances pass through the structure of the syno¬ 
vial membrane of the joints of the toes, the nerve 
centers which preside over those organs perceive 
them, and they set the dense tissues of the or¬ 
gans at work to expel these substances. But as 
these are not depurating organs, they cannot suc¬ 
cessfully accomplish the task ; they can only cre¬ 
ate heat by their friction, and, as a result, inflam¬ 
mation ensues. The nerve centers which made 
the first attempt, finding themselves unsuccess¬ 
ful in their efforts, now communicate with other 
nerve centers which have charge over organs sim¬ 
ilar in character, that is, other joints, and the in¬ 
dividual has rheumatism in the knee, hip, back, 
or shoulder. Now, if we should attempt to cure 
the rheumatism, as many do, by giving an alka¬ 
line or an acid poison, we would be very likely to 
ao’oravate the disease. As we add to the poison, 

oo 

the nerve centers that have charge over the mem- 


92 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


branes which line the cavities of the body (these 
membranes being similar in structure and func¬ 
tion to the synovial membranes of the joints), 
recognize the existence of these poisons, and the 
membranes over which they preside are set at 
work to throw it out. It may be the peritoneal 
membrane of the abdomen, or the pleura of the 
thorax, or the pericardium which surrounds the 
heart, or the dura-mater which envelopes the 
brain. 

The only work that it is possible for any of 
these last-named membranes to perform, is to se¬ 
crete a watery fluid that shall keep the various 
organs which they surround moist and well lubri¬ 
cated, so that there shall be no friction of the 
parts. Now, when these membranes are set at 
work with an increased activity, the only thing 
that they can do is to secrete an extra amount of 
this fluid, and pour it out into the cavities which 
they inclose. This is dropsy. If the peritoneum 
is the active or diseased membrane, the water 
collects in the cavity of the abdomen; if the pleu¬ 
ra, then the water collects in the chest or thorax; 
but if the duia-mater is the diseased membrane, 
water collects about the brain. The first is dropsy 
of the abdomen; the second, dropsy of the chest; 
the third, dropsy of the brain; while if the wa¬ 
ter collects in the pericardium, or heart-case, we 
have dropsy of the heart. 

It is often the lining membrane of the capilla- 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


93 


lies that is set at work, in which case the water 
collects among the loose tissues of the body, pro¬ 
ducing general dropsy. 

Why was this water thrown out ? Simply be¬ 
cause the only function which these membranes 
can perform is to secrete this peculiar kind of 
fluid; and as they are under the direction of the 
nerve centers, when they are incited to greater 
activity, they do the only thing they can do. All 
this is an effort to remove something from the 
system ; yet as these membranes are not depurat¬ 
ing organs, the effort is unsuccessful. Sometimes, 
in cases of rheumatism, when drug medicines are 
given, the action induced in the membranes men¬ 
tioned, whose structure and function are similar 
to those of the inflamed synovial membrane in the 
rheumatic joint, is so great, that instead of water 
being thrown out, the action is entirely stopped, 
inflammation of the membrane follows, death 
speedily results, and the patient is said to have 
died of rheumatism of the heart, stomach, etc. 

We might also notice the disease known as 
mumps. This is a disease of the salivaiy glands. 
It consists of an inflamed condition of these or¬ 
gans induced by the nerve centers that preside 
over them, they having discovered impurities of 
some kind in the blood during its cii dilation 
through these glands. Now, if the patient suf¬ 
fering with mumps takes cold, the diseased ac¬ 
tion is greatly increased, and the nerve centers 


94 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


that preside over organs similar in structure and 
function to the salivary glands are invited to as¬ 
sist in the work, which they do by setting the 
respective organs over which they preside, at 
work. These are the testes in the male, and the 
breasts, or mammary glands, in the female. 

There are other diseases in which all the nerve 
centers are called on to assist, as in fever, in which 
disease there is a general disturbance of all the 
vital functions. Now, all disease is caused by 
some poison or unusable substance that has found 
its way into the system from without, or that 
has been engendered within, and all medicines 
that are capable of occasioning a medicinal effect 
are poisons, and always occasion a diseased action 
in some part of the body, the disease being the 
actions that are set up to rid the system of the 
poison. In reply, then, to the question, Shall we 
give medicine to a sick man ? we say, most em¬ 
phatically, No. 

Medical men have, in all ages, observed that 
certain medicines occasioned special results in 
certain organs, while other medicines occasioned 
different results in the same or other organs; 
hence, they have attempted to classify medicines, 
calling one an emetic, another a purgative, and 
another a diuretic, etc.; but this classification 
has been entirely based upon an erroneous theory 
of the nature and cause of disease. Many physi¬ 
cians have supposed that the effect occasioned 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


95 


in tlie various organs by these medicines was oc¬ 
casioned by the action of the medicine upon the 
organ, and by the medicine acting upon it in some 
manner when it was diseased, in which it would 
not, or could not, have done when in health. 
They supposed that the medicine acted in some 
manner for the purpose of curing the sick 
organ. Others have supposed that the action 
was all performed by the diseased organ, and 
that the organ used the medicine to cure itself 
with. Others, still, have claimed that all medi¬ 
cines antidoted poisons in the system by com¬ 
bining chemically with them, and that they cured 
disease by so doing. 

All of these classes of physicians have expected 
that in the good time coming, when medical 
science should have been perfected, every disease 
would have one or more unfailing remedies, and 
that the medical practitioner would know just 
what to give his patient in every disease from 
which he might suffer. If the theories of the ac¬ 
tion of medicine just mentioned, were either of 
them true, then we might expect just such a time 
as has been looked for by some medical men of 
past times. 

We have already shown that all the phenom¬ 
ena that are manifested as the result of taking 
medicines are simply the action of some, or all 
the vital organs in their efforts to expel the med¬ 
icine from the system; and it is easy to under- 


96 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


stand that these vital efforts cannot be made 
without an expenditure of vital force just in pro¬ 
portion to the effort made. As the vital force is 
expended in the performance of these actions, 
there is a consequent weakening of the system, 
a lowering of the vitality of the patient; so that 
instead of the patient’s vitality being augmented, 
it is greatly diminished, by the use of medicine. 

The question may be asked right here if medi¬ 
cines never cure disease. To this query we an¬ 
swer, Medicines stop the disease, and if that can 
be called curing, then medicines cure disease. 

But here is a point to be considered. Disease, 
we have shown to be vital action; therefore, 
whatever stops the disease, stops vital action. 
How do medicines stop vital action ? They are 
the cause of the expenditure of vital force in an 
attempt to cast the medicine out of the system. 
When a person has fever, for instance, the doctor 
gives medicine to cure, or stop, the fever. The 
vitality that was previously used in the fever 
action in an endeavor to expel bilious matters, and 
other retained excretions, is now used in an en¬ 
deavor to expel the medicine. The fever stops, 
or is cured, because there is not vitality sufficient 
to expel both poisons at once. We should never 
seek to cure a disease by any means that wilkuse 
up any considerable amount of the patient’s vi¬ 
tality ; for if we do, we shall be killing the pa¬ 
tient while curing the disease. 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


97 


Wo have already seen that disease is remedial 
effort; therefore, whoever stops a disease, stops 
remedial effort. We should never stop remedial 
effort, we should only control and assist it. We 
cannot accomplish this by giving medicines, we 
cam only cause a new remedial effort, an effort to 
expel the medicine; and this new effort is always 
made without any reference whatever to the 
previous efforts that were being made to expel 
other poisons. It will not be contended for a 
moment that the lives of men have not, in any 
instance, been saved by taking medicines ; for it 
is quite possible that this may have been the 
case. But when we take a look at the grave¬ 
yards, and read upon the tombstones the ages of 
those who lie buried there, we find that nearly 
all were cut down by the cruel hand of death 
before they attained to old age. Almost the en¬ 
tire race of men in past generations has died of 
disease, yet they took medicines in their last 
sickness. Why did not the medicine save them ? 
A physician may have ten patients. He gives 
them all medicine—five get well, and Live die. 
What right has he to say that his medicines 
cured the five that recovered? How does he 
know but they would have recovered sooner 
if they had not taken his poisons ? How does 
he know but that the five who died would have 
recovered it they had not expended then vitality 
in expelling the poisons he gave tuem. Hiugs 


98 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


and medicines probably send more persons to un¬ 
timely graves than do all other causes combined. 
One reason for believing this is this : Disease is 
vital action put forth to expel some unusable 
substance, or poison, from the system; and, from 
the nature of things, it is evident that when the 
foreign substance is expelled, the disease will 
stop of itself; for the cause being removed, the 
effect must cease. Therefore, diseases are self¬ 
limited if let alone; but if other poisons are in¬ 
troduced, the vital organs wear themselves out in 
their efforts to keep the body free. If we wish 
to “live long in the land,” we must eschew all 
drugs and medicines. That there are others who 
hold to these views, the reader will see by the 
following extracts taken from the sayings and 
writings of noted medical men as quoted by R. 
T. Trail, M. D., President of the New York Hy- 
geio-Therapeutic Medical College, in a lecture 
before his medical class :— 

Professor Alex. H. Stevens, M. D., of the New 
York College of Physicians and Surgeons, in a 
recent lecture to the medical class said: “The 
older physicians grow, the more skeptical they 
become of the virtues of medicine, and the more 
they are disposed to trust to the powers of nat¬ 
ure.” Again: “ Notwithstanding all of our boast¬ 
ed improvements, patients suffer as much as they 
did forty years ago.” 

The venerable Professor Jos. M. Smith, M. D., 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


99 


of the same school, testifies: “ All medicines 
which enter the circulation, poison the blood in 
the same manner as do the poisons that produce 
disease.” Again: “Drugs do not cure disease; 
disease is always cured by the vis medicatrix 
natural”* 

Says Professsor C. A. Gilman, M. D., of the 
same school: “ Many of the chronic diseases of 
adults are caused by the maltreatment of infan¬ 
tile diseases.” Again: “Blisters nearly always 
produce death when applied to children.” Again: 
“ I give mercury to children when I wish to de¬ 
press the powers of life.” And again: “ The ap¬ 
plication of opium to the true skin of an infant 
is very likely to produce death. And yet again : 
“a single drop, of laudanum will often destroy 
the life of an infant.” And once more: “ I our 
grains of calomel will often hill an adult. And, 
finally: “ A mild mercurial course, and mildly 
cutting a man's throat, are synonymous terms.” 

Says Professor Alonzo Clark, M. D., of the 
same school: “From thirty to sixty grains of 
calomel have been given very young children for 
croup.” Again: “Apoplectic patients, who aie 
not bled, have double the chance to recover that 
those have who are bled.” And again: “ Physi¬ 
cians have learned that more harm than good 
has been done by the use of drugs in the treat- 


* The restoring power of nature. 







100 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ment of measles, scarlatina, and other self-limited 
diseases.” And yet again: “ My experience is, 
that croup can’t well be cared ; at least, the suc¬ 
cess of treatment is very doubtful. A different 
mode of treatment is introduced yearly, to be 
succeeded by another the next year.” Once 
more : “ Ten thousand times ten thousand meth¬ 
ods have been tried, in vain, to cure diabetes.” 
Still another: “ In their zeal to do good, physi¬ 
cians have done much harm. They have hurried 
many to the grave who would have recovered if 
left to nature.” And, finally: “ All of our cura¬ 
tive agents are poisons; and, as a consequence, 
every close diminishes the 'patient’s vitality .” 

Says Professor W. Parker, M. D., of the same 
school: “ Of all sciences, medicine is the most 

uncertain.” 

Says Professor B. F. Baker, M. D., of the same 
school: “ The drugs which are administered for 

the cure of scarlet fever and measles, kill far 
more than the diseases do. I have recently given 
no medicine in their treatment, and have had 
excellent success.” 

Says Professor J. W. Carson, M. D., of the same 
school: “ It is easy to destroy the life of an in¬ 

fant. This you will find when you enter prac¬ 
tice. You will find that a slight scratch of the 
pen, which dictates a little too much of a remedy, 
will snuff out the infant’s life / and when you 
next visit your patient, you will find that the 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


101 


child which you left cheerful a few hours pre¬ 
vious is stiff and cold. Beware, then, how you 
use your remedies !” Again : “We do not know 
whether our patients recover because we give 
medicine, or because nature cures them. Perhaps 
bread-pills would cure as many as medicine.” 

Says Professor E. S. Carr, M. D., of the New 
York University Medical School: “All drugs are 
more or less adulterated; and as not more than 
one physician in a hundred has sufficient knowl¬ 
edge in chemistry to detect impurities, the phy¬ 
sician seldom knows just how much of a remedy 
he is prescribing.” Again : “ Mercury, when ad¬ 
ministered in any form, is taken into the circula¬ 
tion and carried to every tissue of the body.* The 
effects of mercury are not for a day, but for all 
time. It often lodges in the bones, occasionally 
causing pain years after it is administered. I 
have often detected metallic mercury in the bones 
of patients who had been treated with this sub¬ 
tile poisonous agent.” 

Says Professor S. St. John, M. D., of the same 
school: “ All medicines are poisonous .” 

Says Professor A. Dean, LL. D., of the same 
school: “ Mercury, when introduced into the sys¬ 
tem, alivays acts as a poison.” 

Says Professor Martin Paine, M. D., of the same 
school: “ Our remedial agents are themselves 
morbific.” Again : “ Our medicines act upon 


102 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


the system in the same manner as do the remote 
causes of disease ” And again : “ Drug medicines 
do but cure one disease by producing another.” 

Says Professor S. D. Gross, M. D., late of the 
New York University Medical School, now of 
the Louisville (Ky.) Medical College: “ Of the 
essence of disease very little is known; indeed, 
nothing at all.” 

These testimonies were taken from the lips of 
the professors to whom they are attributed, as 
they lectured before their classes in the most 
noted medical colleges in the United States. 

To the foregoing statements, we add the fol¬ 
lowing from some of the standard authors of the 
allopathic school of medicine, as quoted by Dr. 
Trail 

“ I have no faith whatever in medicine.”—Du. 
Bailie, of London. 

“The medical practice of our day is, at the 
best, a most uncertain and unsatisfactory sys¬ 
tem ; it has neither 'philosophy nor common 
sense to commend it to confidence.”— Professor 
Evans, Fellow of the Boyal College, London. 

“ Gentlemen, ninety-nine out of every hundred 
medical facts are medical lies; and medical doc¬ 
trines are, for the most part, stark , staring non¬ 
sense!’ — Professor Gregory, of Edinburgh, Scot¬ 
land. 

“ I am incessantly led to make an apology for 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


103 


the instability of the theories and practice of 
physic. Those physicians generally become the 
most eminent who have most thoroughly eman¬ 
cipated themselves from the tyranny of the 
schools of medicine. Dissections daily convince 
us of our ignorance of disease , and cause us to 
blush at our prescriptions. What mischiefs have 
we not done under the belief of false facts and 
false theories ! We have assisted in multiplying 
diseases ; we have done more; we have increased 
their fatality.” — Benjamin Rush, M. D., formerly 
Professor in the first Medical College in Philadel¬ 
phia. 

“ It cannot be denied that the present system 
of medicine is a burning shame to its professors, 
if indeed a series of vague and uncertain incon¬ 
gruities deserves to be called by that name. 
How rarely do our medicines do good! How 
often do they make our patients really worse ! 
I fearlessly assert that in most cases the sufferer 
would be safer without a physician than with 
one. I have seen enough of the mcd-practice of 
my professional brethren to warrant the strong 
language I employ.”— Dr. Ramage, Fellow of the 
Royal College, London. 

“ Assuredly, the uncertain and most unsatisfac¬ 
tory art that we call medical science, is no science 
at all , but a jumble of inconsistent opinions; of 
conclusions hastily, and often incorrectly, drawn; 


104 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


of facts misunderstood or perverted ; of compar¬ 
isons without analogy; of hypotheses without 
reason, and theories not only useless, hut dan¬ 
gerous.”—Dublin Medical Journal. 

“ Some patients get well with the aid of medi¬ 
cine; more without it; and still more in spite 
of it.” —Sir J ohn Forbes, M. D., F. R. S., Physi¬ 
cian to Queen Victoria. 

“ Thousands are often slaughtered in the quiet 
sick-room. Governments should at once either 
banish medical men, and proscribe their blunder¬ 
ing art , or they should adopt some better means 
to protect the lives of the people than at present 
prevail, when they look far less after the practice 
of this dangerous profession , and the murders 
committed in it, than at the lowest trades.”- —Dr. 
Frank, an eminent European Author and Prac¬ 
titioner. 

Let us no longer wonder at the lamentable 
want of success which marks our practice, when 
there is scarcely a sound physiological principle 
among us. I hesitate not to declare, no matter 
how sorely I shall wound our vanity, that so 
gross is our ignorance of the real nature of the 
physiological disorder called disease, that it would, 
perhaps, be better to do nothing, and resign the 
complaint into the hands of nature, than to act as 
we are frequently compelled to do, without know¬ 
ing the why and the wherefore of our conduct, 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


105 


at the obvious risk of hastening the end of our 
patient.” — M. Magendie, the eminent French 
Physiologist and Pathologist. 

“ I may observe that, of the whole number of 
fatal cases in infancy, a great proportion occur 
from the inappropriate or undue application of 
exhausting remedies” —Du. Marshall Hall, 
the distinguished English Physiologist. 

“ Our actual information or knowledge of dis¬ 
ease does not increase in proportion to our ex¬ 
perimental practice. Every dose of medicine 
given is a blind experiment on the vitality of the 
patient.”'—D r. Bostwick, author of the “ History 
of Medicine.” 

“ I wish not to detract from the exalted pro¬ 
fession to which I have the honor to belong, and 
which includes many of my warmest and most 
valued friends; yet it can not answer to my con¬ 
science to withhold the acknowledgement of my 
firm belief, that the medical profession (with its 
prevailing mode of practice) is productive of 
vastly more evil than goodj ; and were it abso¬ 
lutely abolished, mankind would be infinitely the 
gainer.” — Francis Coggswell, M. D., of Boston. 

“ The science of medicine is a barbarous jar¬ 
gon, and the effects of our medicines on the hu¬ 
man system in the highest degree uncertain, ex¬ 
cept, indeed, that they have destroyed more lives 
than war, pestilence, and famine combined. 
John Mason Good, M. D., F. R. S., author of 


106 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


“Book of Nature/’ “A System of Nosology/’ 
“ Study of Medicine/’ etc. 

“I declare, as my conscientious conviction, 
founded on long experience and reflection, that 
if there was not a single 'physician , surgeon, 
man-midwife, chemist, apothecary, druggist, nor 
drug on the face of the earth, there would be 
less sickness and less mortality than now prevail.” 
—James Johnson, M. D., F. B. S., editor of the 
Medico- Chirurgical Review. 

The following declaration was deliberately 
adopted and recorded by the National Medical 
Convention held in St. Louis, Mo., a few years 
since:— 

“ It is wholly incontestible that there exists a 
wide-spread dissatisfaction with what is called the 
regular or old allopathic system of medical prac¬ 
tice. Multitudes of people in this country and 
in Europe express an utter want of confidence in 
physicians and their physic. The cause is evi¬ 
dent : erroneous theory, and, springing from it, 
injurious, often — very often— fatal practice ! 
Nothing will now subserve the absolute requisi¬ 
tions of an intelligent community but a medical 
doctrine grounded upon right reason, in harmony 
with and vouched by the unerring laws of na¬ 
ture and of the vital organism, and authenticated 
and confirmed by successful results.” 

The reader will see by the foregoing quotations 
that the practitioners of the drug system of 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


107 


medication condemn the use of drugs and medi¬ 
cines in full as severe terms as can well he done. 
Let us now see what some of these same men 
say concerning the healing powers of nature, and 
the use of hygienic agents in the treatment of 
disease. 

Says Prof. Parker: “ As we place more confi¬ 
dence in nature, and less in preparations of the 
apothecary, mortality diminishes .” Again: “ Hy¬ 
giene is of far more value in the treatment of 
disease than drugs.” And again: “I wish the 
materia medica was in Guinea, and that you 
would study materia alimentaria .” And yet 
again : “ You are taught learnedly about materia 
medica, and but little about diet.” Once more : 
“ We will have less mortality when people eat to 
live.” And, finally : “ I have cured granulations 
of the eyes, in chronic conjunctivitis, by hygienic 
treatment, after all kinds of drug applications had 
failed.” 

Says Professor Carson: “Water is the best 
diaphoretic we have.” Again: “ My preceptor 
used to give colored water to his patients; and it 
was noticed that those who took the water re¬ 
covered more rapidly than those of another phy¬ 
sician who bled his patients.” 

Says Professor Barker : “ The more simple the 
treatment in infantile diseases, the better the re¬ 
sult” 

Says Professor Peaslee: “Water constitutes 


108 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


about eight-tenths of the weight of the human 
body, and is its most indispensable constituent.” 
Again : “Water is the only necessary—the only 
natural—drink.” 

Says Professor Gilman : “ Every season has its 
fashionable remedy for consumption; but hygi¬ 
enic treatment is of far more value than all 
drugs combined.” Again : “ Cold affusion is the 
best antidote for narcotic poisoning. If the med¬ 
ical profession were to learn and appreciate this 
fact [why do n’t they learn it ?], the number 
of deaths from narcotism would be diminished 
one-half. And again he says: “The continued 
application of cold water has more power to pre¬ 
vent inflammation than any other remedy.” 
And yet again: “ The application of water to the 
external surface of the abdomen is of great im¬ 
portance and value in the treatment of dysen¬ 
tery. I have also cured adults by this means 
alone.” Once more : “ Water is equal in efficacy, 
as a diuretic, to all other diuretics combined. 
Water is the thing that produces diuresis; all 
other means are subordinate.” And, finally: 
“ Water is the best febrifuge we have.” 

Says Professor Smith: “ The vapor of warm 
water is the most efficacious expectorant we 
have.” Again: “Abstinence from food is one 
of the most powerful antiphlogistic means.” 

The following extracts are from a lecture deliv¬ 
ered in course before an Association of Physicians 



DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


109 


in Brooklyn, N. Y., by Prof. Samuel G. Armor, M. 
D., of tlie Long Island College Hospital:—• 

“ The study of therapeutics, as we shall see, is 
beset with many difficulties, none of which are 
more prominent than our want of knowledge of 
the natural history of disease. The bearing of 
this upon our therapeutic reasonings must be at 
once apparent. Usually we see but one side of 
the question, and find it difficult, therefore, to 
form a proper estimate of what belongs to Nature 
and what to Art. Drugs are administered, pa¬ 
tients recover, and we suppose we have cured 
them; whereas our remedies may have had little 
or nothing to do with the recovery; very likely 
it took place in spite of our drugs. 

“ This mistake of sequence for a consequence 
appears to be one of the most natural to which 
the human mind is liable. We encounter it in 
every department of physical science, and in none, 
perhaps, more than in estimating the curative 
value of drugs. Many reasons might be assigned 
why this is so, one or two ol which I may men¬ 
tion. In the first place, we have no distinct in¬ 
struction in the natural history of disease—I 
mean, uninfluenced by drugs. Nor have we any 
field for observation. Call to mind, if you can, a 
single instance in which you watched the course, 
progress, and termination oi disease, uninfluenced 

by remedies of some kind. 

a And we have not only no field for observation, 


110 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


but we find it difficult to create one. The natural 
instinct to seek relief from suffering and danger 
prompts all ranks and grades of people to put 
themselves under some sort of treatment. More¬ 
over, physicians, from prejudices of education, as 
well as from conscientious convictions of duty, 
rarely omit the ordinary remedies in severe dis¬ 
ease. 

“ Just here, then, is a defect in our therapeutic 
literature which we find it difficult to correct. 
Our libraries are full of books on therapeutics 
proper, but contain few on nature’s power of cur¬ 
ing disease. And yet there would seem to be no 
good reason why, if nature has the power of cre¬ 
ating disease, she may not have the power of cur¬ 
ing the same, and that she has such power there 
can be no doubt. 

“ It is an old aphorism that ‘ physicians cure 
— i. e., “take care of”—but nature heals.’ In 
visible diseases, surgical so-called, nobody doubts 
that this is the case. The surgeon does not cure 
the fracture, the wound, or the ulcer; he merely 
guides the operations of nature, removes obsta¬ 
cles, and the vital power restores to health. 

“ And the same principle, precisely, holds .good 
in internal diseases, the relations of which are 
simply hidden from our senses. 

“ What, then, does art do toward curing ? Art 
only assists nature in restoring the vital forces to 
their normal action. 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


Ill 


“ It is an error very liable to beset the young 
practitioner, to try to meet every different symp¬ 
tom by the addition of another drug to his form¬ 
ulae. This is sure to lead to excessive medication. 
Let me guard you against becoming ‘ shot-gun 
practitioners/ on the principle that, if you fire a 
profusion of shot, it is extraordinary if some do 
not hit the mark! Quantity and complexity of 
prescription are very apt to be in proportion to 
the obscurity of the case. The strong and success¬ 
ful practitioner is usually a man of few remedies. 

“And always—let me once more insist as a 
sound rule of practice— when you have doubts as 
to your knowledge of the case, or doubts as between 
nature ancl drugs, resolve that doubt, for the time 
being, in favor of nature. And, whether ad¬ 
ministering drugs or not, see that your patient is 
put on the best possible hygiene; that his room 
is airy and well lighted; that his drinks are suit¬ 
able ; that his food is adapted to his case; that 
he is bathed and sponged if too hot, and warmed 
if too cold; and, above all, that his mind and 
nervous system are kept as quiet as possible. 

“We should enforce a rigid hygiene in obedi¬ 
ence to a most conservative and safe rule of prac¬ 
tice, namely, that it is the duty of the physician 
to restore health by the simplest means in his 
power. 

“Trousseau, the great clinical teacher of France, 
has well said that ‘ to know the nature and cause 


112 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


of disease is more than half of medicine And, 
let me add, from another stand-point of medicine. 
To know the natural cure of disease is more 
than half of therapeutics.” 

In these last quotations we have an inkling of 
the true healing art, which, as there intimated, 
consists in so applying and using hygienic agents 
that the efforts made by the various organs of 
the body may be successful in removing all im¬ 
purities from the system and in overcoming all 
obstructions. 

It is evident that whatever rules and reouila- 

O 

tions are applicable to the preservation of health, 
are also, in a certain degree at least, applicable 
and adapted to the restoration of health, for 
those laws which it is necessary for him to obey 
who would keep healthy, must certainly be obey¬ 
ed by him who would become healthy. The 
truth of this will be very evident to a person who 
understands how the body is affected by surround¬ 
ing conditions and influences, and is thus enabled 
to appreciate the importance of hygienic agents 
as a means of restoring health. The subject of 
Hygienic Agents has been considered in Part I. 

If the reader has carefully perused the preced¬ 
ing pages, there can be little doubt that he 
fully understands that disease is remedial effort, 
is an effort on the part of the organism to remove 
impurities from the system, and that, conse¬ 
quently, the only safe and successful way to treat 


DISEASE AND DRUGS. 


113 


disease is to supply such conditions as will en¬ 
able the diseased organs to be successful in their 
efforts. This being the case, how foolish it would 
be to simply watch the symptoms of a disease, 
and to so medicate the patient as to mitigate or 
change the symptoms without removing the 
cause which occasioned them! As previously 
stated, diseases are self-limited in their nature, 
being simply efforts to remedy evils that exist 
in the system. This being the case, the moment 
the evil, the impurity, or obstruction is overcome 
or removed, that moment the disease will cease. 
Therefore, in the treatment of disease, we should 
ever direct our attention to the cause of the dis¬ 
ease and seek to remove it; well knowing that 
when this is accomplished, we have done all that 
is required. We should never watch the symp¬ 
toms and medicate them, as many physicians do ; 
for in so doing we create a new symptom every 
time we cause an old one to cease. So long as 
an individual has impurities in his system, and 
his organic nervous system has sufficient vitality 
to recognize their presence, just so long will there 
be an effort made by some organ to expel it; and 
if we stop this effort without removing the cause 
that occasioned it, some other organ will be called 
into action, and new symptoms will be manifested. 

In treating disease, we should simply seek to 
control the vital actions so that they shall not 
become so violent as to destroy any oigan 01 tis- 


114 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


sue, and this we may do in three ways: first, by 
reducing or changing the temperature of the 
part; second, by inducing increased activity 
in the skin by inducing a more active circulation 
therein, which is readily done by the proper ap¬ 
plication of the bath; and third, by a proper ap¬ 
plication of the various hygienic agents, thereby 
supplying as nearly as possible those conditions 
which are necessary to preserve the body in 
health. Most invalids make the mistake of seek¬ 
ing present relief, regardless of future conse¬ 
quences. This is wrong, as it becomes a source 
of temptation for them to take, and for physi¬ 
cians to administer, articles that will seriously 
affect their constitutional vigor in the future. 

The foregoing pages treat upon the various 
hygienic agents necessary to the maintenance of 
health, and the nature and cause of disease and 
the true relation of drugs and medicines to the hu¬ 
man system; but little has been said, however, 
in regard to the treatment of disease, except in a 
general way. The object of the following pages 
will be to explain the fundamental principles of 
water treatment, and to describe the various baths 
and their application, together with the diseases 
to which they are severally adapted. 


PAET III. 


THE BATH: 

ITS USE AND APPLICATION. 


GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 

Inasmuch as disease cannot exist where there 
is no disturbance of the vital functions, and as 
there can be no disturbance of these without an 
unbalanced circulation of blood, it follows that 
whatever agent or agents will give us the 
most perfect control over the circulation, and en¬ 
able us to keep it equalized and well balanced, 
will be the most proper agent for us to employ 
in the treatment of disease. Medicines that oc¬ 
casion a change in the actions of any of the or¬ 
gans of the body, or that produce what medical 
men term a medicinal effect, are poisons; and 
they, instead of restoring a proper balance of the 
circulation, only occasion a change of excessive 
vital action and circulation from one organ to an¬ 
other, usually leaving the system in just as unbal¬ 
anced and disturbed a condition as before the 
medicine was taken, and ofttimes in a much worse 
condition. If we examine the nature and cause 

( 115 ) 






116 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


of health, we shall find that it is highly import¬ 
ant that the right degree of temperature he con¬ 
stantly maintained in all parts of the system; 
otherwise, an equally balanced circulation cannot 
be maintained. (See Part I., p. 28, article on 
Temperature.) 

This being the case, it is evident that, if we 
can have perfect control of the temperature of 
the body, we can, in a measure at least, have 
control of the circulation also. Therefore, what¬ 
ever agent will give us the most perfect control 
over the temperature of the body and its various 
parts, will be the very best agent for us to em¬ 
ploy in the treatment of disease. 

There can be no question but that water, in 
its various modes of application, will give us a 
more nearly perfect control over the temperature 
of the body than anything else we can employ. 
In seeking to know when, and why, and how, to 
use water in the treatment of disease, we must 
never lose sight of the fact that whenever the 
body or any part of it is diseased, some part, 
at least, is clogged with impurities, or is congest¬ 
ed or swollen with the fluids of the body; and 
that the disease consists largely of an effort on 
the part of the organism to remove the obstruc¬ 
tion and its cause. If the obstruction consists 
of poisonous substances taken from without, or 
of retained excretions, those substances form an 
obstruction by becoming entangled or lodged 


THE BATH. 


117 


in the tissues, where they either hinder, or en¬ 
tirely prevent, the usual life processes from being 
carried on. 

These poisonous matters are held in solution 
in the blood, and are divided into particles too 
minute for us to distinguish with our external 
senses, yet they are sufficiently large and solid 
to obstruct the nicely adjusted mechanism of the 
vital structures of our bodies. Now as these un¬ 
usable substances can reach the tissues only as 
they are circulated in the blood, being held in 
solution by it, it is evident that in many cases 
the drinking of pure, soft water would result in 
great good, as the elimination of this water by 
the kidneys, the sweat glands, and other depu¬ 
rating organs would remove much of the poison¬ 
ous matter held in solution by the watery por¬ 
tion of the blood. Water, being the most perfect 
solvent of any known fluid, dissolves out, and 
washes away the impurities that have clogged 
the system, unless it is itself so saturated with 
similar materials that it can retain or dissolve 
no more. 

Water is not only useful when used as indi¬ 
cated above, but it is also useful when applied 
externally as a purifying agent. The skin con¬ 
tains an innumerable number of little orifices, 
called pores, through which more than one-half 
of the waste and effete matters of the body aie 

0 


Fam. Thys. 


118 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


passed off as the insensible perspiration. The 
months of these pores open upon the surface of 
the body, and deposit the matter thrown off 
through them upon the skin. If this waste mat¬ 
ter is not removed, it accumulates, dries, and soon 
chokes up these openings, thus causing a reten¬ 
tion of the effete matters within the system. A 
daily bath for three or four days for a person in 
this condition, if he is of ordinary strength, is a 
very effectual means of removing these deposits, 
thereby enabling the system to regain a condition 
of health by discharging the impurities through 
the pores of the skin. If the skin has not been 
properly attended to for a long time, the pores 
will not only be clogged, but the entire system 
will be very gross, being filled with the retained 
excretions, and a diseased action will be set up 
in some of the internal organs for the purpose ol 
removing these waste matters which should have 
been thrown off through the skin. In such a 
case it is apparent that the only treatment that 
can be given is that which will set the sweat 
glands at woik, and thus relieve the internal 
organs from congestion. To accomplish these 
purposes, the prolonged warm or hot bath will 
be found the most effective treatment that can be 
given, for it softens and washes away all the im¬ 
purities from the surface of the body, and also 
softens the skin, and thereby enables the sweat 


THE BATH. 


119 


glands to excrete more readily the insensible per¬ 
spiration with its contained impurities. By 
heating and moistening the surface, it will also 
draw a great amount of blood from the internal 
organs to the surface, thereby relieving them of 
congestion, and at the same time inducing a much 
greater action in the skin and its appendages, so 
that a greater amount of impurities shall be 
thrown off through the skin. If the patient’s 
system is very foul, it may be found necessary to 
repeat the bath daily for several days, or to apply 
a wet-sheet-pack, or even a vapor-bath daily , or 
to alternate these for a few days, in order to sue- 
cessfully remove obstructions from the system. 
Prolonged baths should never be given daily to 
any but the strongest patients. 

Water may be so applied as to excite special 
action in almost any organ in the body, if proper 
attention is paid to the temperature and the 
mode of application. It may be used so as to 
produce vomiting, purging, sweating, diuresis, 
etc. It may be made a tonic, a stimulant, a sed¬ 
ative, or an alterative. In fine, by means of it 
we can accomplish nearly all the results aimed to 
be produced by medicines. 

Inflammation in some part of the body is an 
accompaniment of most of the diseases to which 
the human family are liable, and this is moic 
quickly and effectually allayed by water than by 
any other means; and as water enters so largely 


120 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


into the composition of the human frame, we 
have the assurance that, however much may 
be absorbed, no evil results will follow. The cool¬ 
ing property of water renders it of priceless value 
in the treatment of inflammations and fevers. 
The natural temperature of the body in health is 
98° Fahrenheit, and it cannot vary much from 
this without serious difficulties following. In fact, 
if the temperature of the whole body were to be 
raised or lowered nine degrees from the natural 
standard, death would be the inevitable result. 
In all fevers and inflammations there is an increase 
of temperature, and the danger depends upon the 
degree of heat that is present. If the heat is 
intense, the fluids of the body undergo rapid 
change; and unless some agent can be found that 
shall reduce the temperature of the part, death 
must speedily result. The treatment required in 
such cases is to reduce the temperature and equal¬ 
ize the circulation. 

II the temperature of the body is too high, it 
can be readily reduced by the application of wa¬ 
ter, which should be applied continuously if cool 
or tepid, or if warm or hot it should be applied 
alternately with cold, or for but a few minutes 
at a time. If the temperature is too low, it can 
be readily raised by the continuous application of 
warm or hot water, or of dry heat. Water, when 
used either externally or internally, is the very 
best agent known for cooling the system, for the 


•THE BATH. 


121 


reason that it requires more heat to give a sensi¬ 
ble warmth to a given amount of water than to 
an equal weight of any other common substance. 

A vast amount of heat is required to convert 
water into vapor rapidly; hence, when water 
evaporates from the surface of the body, no mat¬ 
ter at what temperature it has been applied, it 
serves as a constant cooler of the surface. It is 
this evaporation of water that makes it serve so 
beneficial a purpose when applied in the treat¬ 
ment of fevers and inflammations. The heat re¬ 
quired to convert the water into vapor in these 
cases is all obtained from the body; consequently, 
the temperature of the body must be lowered if 
water is allowed to evaporate from its surface. 
This being the case, it is easy to understand how 
fever and inflammation may be reduced by the fre¬ 
quent application of water of any degree of tem¬ 
perature. Internal fevers may be reduced by 
cool drinks. The cool fluid is absorbed and cir¬ 
culated with the blood, and the fever of the inter¬ 
nal organs is thus reduced, a certain amount of 
heat being used up in raising the temperature of 
the liquid taken to the same degree as the blood. 
The greater the variation of the temperatuie of 
the body from the common standard, the more con¬ 
stant and assiduous must be the application of 
water, both externally and internally. 

It is this cleansing, absorbing, dissolving, and 


122 HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

cooling power of water, by means of which the 
effete matters are removed from the system, and 
its temperature and the circulation of its fluids 
regulated, that renders water so efficient an agent 
in the restoration and preservation of health. 

All systems of medicine recognize the fact that, 
in the treatment of disease, it is necessary to ac¬ 
celerate the change of matter in order to renovate 
the tissues and invigorate the various organs. 
To do this, they bleed, purge, or mercurialize their 
patients down, and then give wine, tonics, and a 
“ generous diet ” to stimulate them up again as 
fast as possible, thus doing and undoing inter¬ 
changeably. Bathing, pure air, appropriate exer¬ 
cise, and plain, simple food, will effect a change 
of matter incomparably more rapid, and with¬ 
out the destruction of healthful materials, than 
can be accomplished by any other mode of treat¬ 
ment. 

HOT AND COLD APPLICATIONS. 

Heat and cold exert a powerful influence on 
the nervous organism, as well as on the tempera¬ 
ture of the body and the circulation of the blood. 
Heat applied to any part of the body expands 
the vessels of the part and increases the activity 
of the nerves. The blood vessels enlarge, and lose 
their contractile powers to a certain extent, and 
become more or less distended with blood. Gold 


THE BATH. 


123 


applied to these vessels causes them to contract 
and force the blood out, leaving less than their 
usual supply. 

In congestion and inflammation the circulation 

O 

is obstructed by the capillaries becoming distended 
and surcharged with blood. The most successful 
means of overcoming these conditions is by the 
use of water. Water, when applied cold, will ab¬ 
sorb the heat and cause the capillaries to contract, 
thus forcing the blood out and so relieving the 
congested organ. If the water is applied very 
hot at first for a few minutes, and then quite cold 
for a short time, alternating thus for thirty to 
sixty minutes, the blood will be caused to cir¬ 
culate freely through the parts until the cause of 
the congestion is removed. This last method of 
applying water is very successful in removing 
congestions where they are not deep seated. But 
if the inflammation is deep seated, prolonged hot 
applications in the region of the inflamed part 
will be found the most efficacious, as it relieves 
the affected organ by relaxing the vessels of the 
surface and thus causing them to become dis¬ 
tended with blood, which is thus diverted from 
the previously inflamed or congested organ. 

When any part of the body lacks its due pro¬ 
portion of blood, which is frequently the case 
with the surface, and especially with the hands 
and feet, a sensation of coldness results. If we 
apply heat to these parts, the capillaries become 


124 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


distended, the blood flows more freely, and they 
become warm. The first effect of cold applica¬ 
tions to the surface is to force the blood in upon 
the internal organs, thereby inducing an increased 
action of the heart to force the blood back again 
into the capillaries; and if the cold is not too in¬ 
tense, nor too long applied, the increased activity 
of the circulatory system makes the circulation 
freer, and the parts warmer than before the cold 
was applied. This effect is termed reaction, and 
it is brought about wholly by the nerve centers 
of organic life. When the cold is first applied, 
they recognize that there is danger of the system 
becoming too cold; and they immediately set the 
tissues of the entire surface of the body at work 
in a rapid manner to warm up the part. This 
explains how it is that a strong and vigorous per¬ 
son can take a cool or cold bath and be warmer 
immediately after than before taking it, or than 
immediately after taking a tepid or warm bath. 
It also explains why tepid or warm baths, and in 
some instances even hot baths, are better to alle¬ 
viate fevers than are very cold baths. It is be¬ 
cause the reaction is less after the tepid, warm, 
or hot bath than after the cool or cold bath. 

HEAT AID COLD TO THE SPINE. 

Dr. John Chapman, of London, has made some 
interesting discoveries in regard to the applica¬ 
tion of heat and cold to the spine. The following 


TIIE BATH. 


125 


is a statement of bis theory, as presented by Dr. 
Miller, of New York :— 

“ Heat or cold, applied over the spinal column, 
exerts an important influence upon different 
parts of the body. The effect upon the internal 
organs and remote parts of the body is directly 
opposite to that produced upon the capillaries in 
the region where the application is made. To 
illustrate : By applying heat to the feet, the flow 
of blood to them is increased, and they become 
warm; the same result is accomplished by ap¬ 
plying cold to the lower part of the spine. Cold 
is applied to the bleeding vessels to stop uterine 
hemorrhage; hot applications to the middle of 
the spine will have the same effect. Cool or 
cold compresses are applied to the chest for 
pleurisy or inflammation of the lungs; hot appli¬ 
cations to the spine, between the shoulders, will 
arrest these inflammatory processes much more 
speedily. 

“ A knowledge of these facts, and of the cor¬ 
rect methods of applying heat and cold to the 
different portions of the spinal region, and to 
other portions of the body, serves to make these 
the most powerful agents we have for the control 
of disease, whether acute or chronic. 

“ There are thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves, 
one of each pair being given off on either side of 
the spinal column. Each nerve has two roots, 
a posterior or sensitive, and an anterior or motor, 


126 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


root. These two roots unite near the spinal cord, 
forming one nerve, which, after receiving two 
small fibers from a ganglion of the great sympa¬ 
thetic nerve, extends to some remote part of the 
body. Thus the thirty-one pairs are distributed, 
each in its order, to the different organs. 

“ The great sympathetic nerve, so called be¬ 
cause through it is produced a sympathy be¬ 
tween different organs of the body, consists of a 
series of ganglia, connected by nerve fibers, situ¬ 
ated on each side of the spinal column, and ex¬ 
tending from the base of the skull to the lower 
part of the spine. When heat or cold is applied 
on each side of the spine, over these ganglia, it 
exerts a powerful influence upon the organs to 
which nerves from these ganglia are distributed. 

“Hot applications over the ganglia that sends 
nerves to the lungs, heart, stomach, liver, bowels, 
kidneys, or genital organs, will diminish the 
flow of blood to those organs. Thus, for inflam¬ 
mation of the head and throat, apply cold to the 
inflamed parts, and heat to the back of the neck; 
for inflammation of the pleura, lungs, or heart, 
apply cold to the chest, and heat to the spine, 
between the shoulders; for inflammation of the 
stomach, liver, or spleen, place cool or cold appli¬ 
cations over the part, and apply heat to the 
spine, just below the shoulder blades; for in¬ 
flammation of the bowels, kidneys, or genital or¬ 
gans, apply cold to the inflamed part, and heat 


THE BATH. 


127 


to the middle and lower part of the back. Heat, 
applied to the spine in these places, will check 
hemorrhage in the organs to which the particular 
nerves over which the application is made are 
distributed. Uterine hemorrhage is effectually 
arrested by the application of heat to the middle 
of the back. 

“ Ice applied between the shoulders increases 
the flow of blood to the breast and warms the 
hands. Ice applied to the lower portion of the 
spine prevents cold feet, relieves painful men¬ 
struation, piles, constipation, cholera, chronic 
diarrhea, spermatorrhea, and removes diseases of 
the bladder and man}?- other difficulties. Ice, ap¬ 
plied the whole length of the spine, is very effect¬ 
ual in cases of epilepsy, Saint Vitus’s dance, dia¬ 
betes, and paralysis.” 

GENESAL RULES FOR BATHING. 

1. A bath . should never be taken when the 
stomach is actively engaged in digesting food; 
for in bathing the blood is sent to the surface in 
such quantities that the work of digestion would 
be retarded if it was taking place at the time of 
taking the bath. For the same reason, food 
should not be taken into the stomach immedi¬ 
ately after a bath, nor until ample time has been 
allowed the system to react well. The most ap¬ 
propriate time to take a bath is about ten or 
eleven o’clock in the forenoon. 


128 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


The system, as a general thing, is in better 
condition at that time than at any other of the 
day. The body has been refreshed by the morn¬ 
ing meal, which, by that time, should be well di¬ 
gested, and it has not become wearied with the 
labors of the day. 

The bath may be taken on retiring for the 
night with the best of results, or in the afternoon. 
And on special occasions, when accident or sud¬ 
den sickness seems to demand, it may be taken 
at any hour of the day or night. 

2. Women should not take much treatment 
during the menstrual period; for a cold bath at 
that time would be very liable to check the 
menstrual function, and might cause most serious 
consequences ; while a hot bath would be liable 
to produce hemorrhage, and any form of a bath 
would be liable to overtax the system unless the 
bather was of the most robust constitution. 

3. A bath should never be taken in such a 
manner as to produce cold feet, or headache ; al¬ 
ways wet the head with cool or cold water before 
taking the bath, and if the feet are cold, have a 
warm or hot bath for them. 

4. Never bathe when the body is greatly fa¬ 
tigued; for proper reaction cannot then take 
place and the patient will be liable to chill, and 
so will not receive the benefit he otherwise 
would; yet a lively sponge-bath, or a plunge or 
shower-bath, would have a soothing effect, even 


THE BATH. 


129 


if taken when the bather was somewhat tired, if 
he was not too much fatigued. 

o 

5. All general baths should be taken briskly, 
and the bather himself should rub vigorously, 
that he may quicken his circulation and respira¬ 
tion, and thus secure the warmth and reaction 
that is so essential after every bath. 

6. A sheet is much better than a towel to dry the 
body after bathing, as it is so much larger. When 
possible, the bather should have an assistant to 
rub him while in the bath, and to dry him after¬ 
ward. In drying the bather, the assistant should 
cover him with the sheet in such a manner as to 
completely envelop his body. He should then 
rub the body thoroughly, pressing the sheet down 
upon every part, drying it well; after this, the 
sheet should be removed, and the assistant should 
rub the entire surface of the body well with the 
dry hand. It is always well to percuss or slap 
the flesh gently with the hand for one or two 
minutes after wiping dry with the sheet or towel. 
The entire process of drying the patient, and 
rubbing and percussing him until a good reaction 
takes place, ought not to occupy more than four 
or five minutes. 

7. Whenever an invalid takes a bath, it should 
be in a warm room, so that he shall not chill. 
The temperature of the room should be from 70° 
to 85° Fahrenheit. 

8. When the weather is suitable, the bather 


130 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


should take exercise in the open air immediately 
after his bath, unless he is too weak to do so. 
If the weather is not suitable, or if the bather is 
too feeble to take active exercise, he should re¬ 
tire to his room and cover up warm in bed for an 
hour or so, and sleep if possible. 

9. None but the very strongest persons should 
bathe in cold water. Nervous individuals, and 
those who have weak digestive organs, or who 
have a feeble circulation, should not use even 
very cool water in bathing, neither should con¬ 
sumptives, nor those who are liable to hemorrhage, 
nor those who are just recovering from any severe 
acute disease. Not one in a thousand of the 
strongest men and women can take frequent cold 
baths without seriously damaging his health. 

10. Always use a thermometer to determine 
the temperature of the bath for invalids. 

TEMPERATURE OF BATHS. 

Many of the early practitioners of hydropathy 
have brought the system into lasting disrepute 
by the indiscriminate use of cold water in treat¬ 
ing the sick; and very many persons at the pres¬ 
ent day have such a horror of the cold-water cure 
that they will hardly tolerate the use of water 
at any temperature, even for cleanliness. 

The various conditions and temperaments of 
patients require that the bath for one should differ 
in temperature and duration from that for another. 


THE BATH. 


131 


A general rule to be observed is that all weak 
and nervous patients should bathe in water of 
that degree of temperature most agreeable. 

Baths are classified as cold, cool, tepid, warm, 
and hot. The nervous sensibilities of people dif¬ 
fer so widely that a bath which would seem tepid 
to one person is cool to another, while it might 
seem warm to a third. Again, disease, or change 
in the temperature of the atmosphere, may so 
change a person’s condition that a bath that 
would seem cool to him at one time might seem 
tepid at another; so we find that our sensations 
are not the proper guides for us to follow. 

The following table gives the temperature of 
the various baths as indicated by Falienheit’s 
thermometer. 


Cold baths range 
Cool “ “ 

Tepid “ 

Warm “ “ 

Hot “ 


from 32° to 65° 

“ G5° to 80° 

“ 80° to 92° 

“ 92° to 98° 

. '• 98° to 115° 


As 32° is the freezing point, a bath should 
never be given at this temperature. Water at 
from 55° to G5° will be as cold as need be for the 
cold bath, if given as a general bath ; yet in many 
local diseases, ice-water, and even ice itself, is 
none too cold to be applied to the affected parts. 


132 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


BATHS FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN. 

To most children the bath is a luxury, if prop¬ 
erly given. It should be tepid or warm for very 
young or feeble infants, and should not be too 
frequently administered. A general bath once in 
four or five days will be sufficient for such chil¬ 
dren, except in very hot weather, when, if the 
heat affects them much, they should be bathed 
more frequently. 

After children are six or seven months old, if 
they are stout and healthy, a tepid or cool hand- 
bath two or three times a week, if properly ad¬ 
ministered, will prove just as beneficial to them 
as is the daily currying to young colts. Children 
should always be. bathed quickly. The naked 
hand is better than either a sponge or a cloth to 
rub the body with while bathing. 

THE SPONGE OR HAND-BATH. 

This bath is more easily administered than 
any other form of bath that can be given, as it 
can be taken in any room in the house, or may 
be given to very feeble patients even while in 
bed. All that is required is a basin of water, a 
sponge or soft cloth, and a towel, with a rug to 
spread on the carpet to prevent soiling it. A 
very good protector for the carpet can be very 
easily made. Take a piece of cotton cloth one 
and one-half yards square, and hem in a one-half 


THE BATH. 


133 


inch rope around the edge. Then paint the cloth 
with two or three coats of white lead and boiled 
linseed oil; this will make it water tight, and 
the edges being raised by the rope will prevent 
any water from running over upon the carpet or 
floor. In taking the sponge-bath, have a bucket 
or large basin of water, which may be of any 
temperature that the conditions of the body may 
demand, into which dip the sponge, and on re¬ 
moving, squeeze it until it does not drip, and 
then wash the face, neck, head, and arms first, 
rubbing them vigorously. Then wipe dry. Next, 
wash the back, chest, and abdomen, and wipe in 
the same manner; after which, bathe the lower 
extremities in the same way. When this bath 
is given to the patient while in bed, as is often 
necessary with those who are very feeble, begin 
with the head, and proceed in the same manner, 
always keeping the parts that have been dried 
well covered with the bedclothes. This is a bath 
of universal application, there being no patient 
so feeble that it may not be administered with 
safety, provided the water is of the right degree 
of temperature. It will cleanse the skin thor¬ 
oughly, and will equalize the circulation by in¬ 
ducing a gentle reaction to the entire surface. 
It will relieve congestion of the internal organs 
by inducing an increased circulation in the sur¬ 
face. It will subdue fever and allay inflamma- 

Fnm. riiys. Id 


134 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


tion by reducing the temperature of the body ; 
and it will give a general feeling of freshness to 
the entire system. It will also soothe the nerves, 
if they are excited, as nothing else will, and will 
produce quiet, rest, and sleep many times when all 
other tilings fail. This bath may be given with 
the naked hand, and is, when given thus, a milder 
form of the bath than when given with the sponge, 
as less water is applied to the patient’s body. 

THE FULL-BATH. 

For persons who are in health, and for the 
majority of those who are invalids, there is no 
bath that affords more pleasure than the full- 
bath when rightly administered, with water of 
the proper temperature. Every family should 
possess a bath-tub of sufficient size to allow the 
taking of this bath. For this purpose, the bath¬ 
tub should be about six feet long, twenty or 
twenty-four inches wide, and eighteen or twenty 
inches deep. Those who can afford a separate 
room for bathing purposes, and who have a 
plentiful supply of water, should have such a 
tub. It should be lined with tinned copper, or 
with zinc, and should have an outlet in the bot¬ 
tom, with a stopper. Those who cannot afford 
such a bath-room and tub can make a portable 
tub that will answer every purpose. 

Make a rim of hickory, and bend it into form, 
so that it shall resemble the outline of a full-bath 


THE BATH. 


135 


tub; then make a sack in tlie shape the tub is 
to be, of heavy cluck cloth, and nail it to the 
wooden rim; then paint the cloth on both sides 
with white-lead paint, or oil it with boiled lin¬ 
seed oil. Two coats will be required to make it 
water-tight. In taking the full-bath, water suf¬ 
ficient to cover the patient all except his head, 
when lying down, is required. 

This bath is very useful for cleanliness and re¬ 
freshment, and there is no bath better than this 
to remove soreness from the muscles, or stiffness 
from the joints, after the toils and fatigues of' 
physical labor, or to calm the excitement of the 
brain and nervous system after prolonged mental 
labor. If this bath is taken to afford refreshment 
to the nervous system, the water should be tepid, 
and the bath should last about ten minutes. If 
it is intended to remove soreness or stiffness from 
the muscles and joints, it should be warm, and 
should be prolonged to fifteen or twenty min¬ 
utes, after which it should be reduced to tepid, 
and continued five minutes longer. The bather 
should rub himself well while in the bath. If it 
is administered for the purpose of breaking up a 
cold, the water should be very warm, or hot, and 
it should be administered for fifteen or twenty 
minutes unless the patient sweats freely, or be¬ 
comes faint ; in either of these cases, the temper¬ 
ature of the water should be reduced ten or fif- 


136 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


teen degrees, for three to five minutes before the 
patient leaves the bath. 

The hot full-bath is very useful in relieving 
the acute pains of neuralgia, rheumatism, gout, 
and many other painful inflammatory affections. 
It will also often greatly mitigate the cold stage 
in fever and*ague and other fevers. Care must 
be taken to cool the patient gradually, after tak¬ 
ing a hot fall-bath. This may be done by cool¬ 
ing the water, as above described, and then, as 
the patient rises from his bath, pouring a few 
quarts of cool water over him. Always wet the 
patient’s head with cold water before taking this 
or any other form of bath. 

THE HALF-BATH. 

This bath is taken in the same tub as is the 
full-bath, the patient, however, occupies a sitting 
posture. An amount of water sufficient to cover 
the limbs and feet, and a portion of the abdomen, 
is required. An attendant should rub the chest 
and back, while the patient, if able, should rub 
the abdomen and limbs. This is a milder form 
than the fall-bath. It is much employed in dys¬ 
peptic affections, liver complaints, affections of 
the spleen and kidneys, weakness or torpor of 
the abdominal muscles, spinal irritation, uterine 
diseases, and in all forms of mismenstruation. 
The temperature of this bath should not be above 
95° nor below 75°. This bath is useful in all 


THE BATH. 


137 


spasmodic affections : and in the early stages of 
fever, the prolonged half-bath may be employed 
with the very best of results. Patients suffering 
with inflammation of the bowels and adjacent 
organs, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera morbus, 
colic, etc., will find the prolonged half-batli well 
adapted to their conditions, and they will derive 
great benefit from its use. This bath is always 
safe for any length of time under sixty minutes, 
provided the patient is not fatigued, chilled, nor 
overheated, thereby. 

THE SHALLOW-BATII. 

This bath is better adapted to very feeble pa¬ 
tients than either the half-bath or the full-bath; 
hence it is more frequently employed in treatment. 

The ordinary bathing-tub can be used in giv¬ 
ing the shallow-bath; but it is more convenient 
to use an oval or circular tub, which should be 
about nine inches deep, and raised about one 
foot above the floor. 

The water in the shallow-bath should not be 
more than five or six inches deep. The temper¬ 
ature, which must be adapted to circumstances, 
should be between 65° and 90°. If the patient 
is feeble and the circulation weak, and the sensi¬ 
bilities keen, the water should be of a higher 
temperature than if the patient has more strength 
or is less sensitive. The bather should assume a 
sitting posture, as in the half-bath. He should 


138 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


be rubbed vigorously, either by himself or by an 
attendant, so as to get up as good an action of 
the tissues as possible, and to induce an active 
circulation in the surface. The arms, chest, legs, 
and feet, should each receive their share of the 
rubbing by the patient, if he is able, while the 
attendant rubs the back, shoulders, and other 
parts of the body. 

If no attendant is present, the patient should 
fill the sponge with water and squeeze it re¬ 
peatedly over the neck and shoulders, letting the 
water run down the back. If a sponge cannot be 
obtained, a soft towel will answer every purpose. 
After dipping it in water and squeezing it over 
the shoulders a few times, the towel may be 
thrown across the back, one end being grasped 
by one hand above the shoulder, and the other 
end by the other hand below the waist. The 
towel may then be drawn briskly in various di¬ 
rections across the back until it has received its 
share of the general rubbing. The patient may 
remain in this bath from one to fifteen or twenty 
minutes, according to his condition. On leaving 
the bath, a few quarts of water, five or ten de¬ 
grees cooler than the bath, should be poured over 
the patient’s body, and this should be followed 
by the dry rubbing-sheet and rubbing with the 
dry hands. This is a derivative bath, and is 
well calculated to draw the blood from any con¬ 
gested organ to the surface. It is also very use- 


TI1E BATH. 


139 


fill in cooling the blood in hot stages of fever, 
and in many forms of inflammatory disease. It 
is also good to relieve a rush of blood to the 
head, sunstroke, apoplexy, delirium tremens, and 
all forms of spasmodic diseases, as fits, convul¬ 
sions, etc. It is also useful in relieving a person 
suffering from the effects of severe nervous agita¬ 
tion. The cool or tepid bath is the best and 
safest temperature, and the one at which this 
bath should generally be given, yet there is no 
danger in taking it at any temperature, provided 
a proper reaction is induced, so that the patient 
resumes his usual temperature afterward. 

In givinor this bath to relieve children when in 
spasms, place the child in the tub, and with the 
hand apply cold water to the spine two or three 
times; this will, in most cases, bring relief from 
the spasm. 

THE HIP OR SITZ-BATH. 

The sitz-bath may be given in a common wash- 
tub, although a tub made for the purpose is bet¬ 
ter. If a wash-tub is used, the back side of it 
should be raised three or four inches. To give 
this bath properly, three or four gallons of water 
are required. It may be given either cold, cool, 
tepid, warm, or hot. In this, as in all other baths, 
the cold and the hot, being the extremes, produce 
much more powerful results than will the cool, 


140 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


tepid, or warm baths, and, consequently, require 
more attention in their application. 

This bath is a powerful tonic when applied 
cold, or cool, daily for five to ten minutes. But 
if it is extended to twenty or thirty minutes, it 
becomes a strong derivative and sedative, whether 
given cool, tepid, or warm. For diseases of the 
bowels, urinary and reproductive organs, this 
bath is invaluable. For constipation, diarrhea, 
dysentery, piles, diseases of the kidneys and blad¬ 
der, and for chronic affections of the stomach, 
liver, and spleen, it is one of the most effectual 
forms of bath that can be used. 

In taking this batlq always wet the head with 
cold water before sitting down in the tub. The 
feet should be placed in a foot-bath while taking 
the sitz-bath. The water for the foot-bath should 
be five or eight degrees warmer than the sitz- 
bath. After the patient is seated in the bath, 
an attendant should throw a blanket over him 
in such a manner as to completely cover all but 
his head. It should be so adjusted as to keep 
the steam from escaping from the bath-tub. The 
patient should then throughly rub his abdomen, 
chest, and hips. The length of time to which 
this bath should be prolonged, and the tempera¬ 
ture at which it should be given, depend wholly 
upon the condition of the patient and the effect 
desired to be produced. If the patient is weak 
and debilitated, and it is desired to tone up his 


TIIE BATH. 


141 


system, the bath should be taken at a tempera¬ 
ture of from 85° to 90°, for five or eight minutes, 
after which it should be reduced ten degrees and 
continued three minutes longer. If it is taken for 
the purpose of removing congestion, or to relieve 
headache, it should be at a temperature of from 
90° to 98°, and should be prolonged to twelve or 
fifteen minutes; after which, reduce the water 10° 
and take the bath for three or five minutes longer. 

For removing a severe cold, wet the head with 
cold water and have the water in the sitz-tub 
at 100°, gradually raising it to 110°, with that in 
the foot-bath two or three degrees hotter. Cover 
the patient with a blanket, as before directed, 
and let him sit in the bath for fifteen minutes or 
half an hour, unless he sweats profusely, or be¬ 
comes weary, or liable to faint; in which case, 
take him out, after first cooling the bath in the usual 
manner. It will be necessary to add, occasionally, 
hot water to that in the bath, while the patient is 
in it, so- as to keep it at the proper temperature, 
which should be as hot as he can well bear. 
Drinking a glass of hot water after sitting in the 
bath eight or ten minutes will hasten the sweat¬ 
ing process. The patient should not be allowed 
to remain long in the bath after sweating begins. 
The object is not to occasion profuse sweating, 
but to open the pores of the skin, and thus estab¬ 
lish the work of depuration through the skin, and 
draw the blood from the congested organs. After 


142 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


sweating lias begun, or on leaving this bath tor 
any cause, the water in both the foot-bath and 
the sitz-bath should be reduced 10 , and after the 
lapse of three minutes it should be reduced 10 
more. The patient should then wash off briskly, 
wipe dry, and rub well with the naked hand. 
One such bath will usually break up the very 
worst cold if the patient will, in the meantime, 
abstain from eating for one or two meals, being 
careful not to expose himself, and keeping quiet. 

Prolonged cold hip-baths should never be taken 
except by direction of a skillful physician, for 
there is danger of producing local congestion 
if they are given unskillfully. 

THE FOOT-BATH. 

This bath may be taken in a large wash-basin 
or tin pan, or in a water bucket, or in a tub made 
for the purpose. It consists in placing the feet 
in a sufficient amount of water to cover both them 
and the ankles well. It may be of any tempera¬ 
ture that the condition of the patient shall re¬ 
quire, and may be of from one to thirty minutes’ 
duration. The cold foot-bath should always be of 
very short duration. The hot foot-bath, taken three 
or four times a day for three to five minutes, will 
often relieve headache, toothache, or acute pain 
in any part. When taken in connection with 
the sitz-bath, the foot-bath is a most useful ap¬ 
plication. 


TIIE BATH. 


143 


THE SHOWER-BATH. 

The ordinary shower-bath consists of a number 
of small streams of water falling upon the patient 
from a perforated vessel. The effect produced 
depends upon the size of the streams, the hight 
from whence they fall, and the temperature of the 
water. Large streams of cold water, if falling 
but a short distance, will produce a severe shock 
on the nervous system. Small streams will pro¬ 
duce an equally severe shock if the water falls 
tlirough a considerable space. Several years 
since, the shower-bath was the favorite bath in 
many water-cure establishments; but as it was 
administered quite cold, it injured many patients 
by its severity; hence, it gradually fell into dis¬ 
repute, and the spray-bath has generally taken 
its place in health institutions. 

The shower-bath is, however, very valuable if 
properly administered. It should be taken, as a 
general thing, at a temperature of from 70° to 
90°, when it will be found quite effective as a 
tonic. The cold shower upon the head is quite 
injurious, as well as painful, if the water falls any 
considerable distance, and is applied for any con¬ 
siderable length of time. Used in this way, it 
has sometimes been adopted in penitentiaries as 
a mode of punishment for intractable prisoners. 
The culprit was placed on a seat in such a 
manner that lie could not move his body or head 


144 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


from a fixed position. A small stream of ice 
water was then allowed to fall several feet and 
strike the crown of the head. This infliction 
was so severe that it was more dreaded by the 
prisoners who had once received it than was the 
time-honoredcat-o-nine-tails. The injurious effects 
on the prisoners was very great; not so much, 
however, from the water itself, as from its ex¬ 
tremely low temperature, and prolonged applica¬ 
tion, together with the fact that the culprit was 
confined in a fixed position. 

The shower-bath should be given in the fol¬ 
lowing manner: Begin with tepid water, then 
change to cool, and at last, for an instant, a dash 
of cold water. Never let the cold water fall di¬ 
rectly upon the head except for an instant. Be¬ 
gin with letting the water fall upon the hands 
and arms, rubbing them briskly in the mean time; 
then let it fall upon the legs and feet, then upon 
the various parts of the body. 

This bath is very useful when properly applied, 
not only in promoting cleanliness, but also in ex¬ 
citing the superficial circulation, and in remov¬ 
ing internal congestions and inflammations. It 
may be given advantageously, also, in some cases, 
after a pack or vapor-bath. 

THE SPB AY-BATH. 

This bath has taken the place of the shower 
bath in many health institutes. It is produced 


THE BATH. 


145 


by connecting a liose pipe with spray attachment 
to a force pump, or water-pipe where there is a 
considerable pressure, the water being forced 
through a flat plate of copper or brass which is 
perforated with several small holes. 

In giving the spray-bath, it is better to have 
the water so arranged that it can be changed 
from hot to cold, or any intermediate temperature, 
at pleasure. Probably this bath affords more 
pleasure than any other bath that can be admin¬ 
istered. It is a light bath, and may be taken 
with safety by patients too feeble to take many 
other forms of bath. 

The spray-bath may be administered with 
profit after almost any other. It is very useful 
in subduing local inflammations and swellings, in 
reducing fever, and in inducing an active circu¬ 
lation in the surface. 

DRIPPING-SHEET BATH. 

This is a very useful and pleasant manner of 
taking a light bath. The bather should stand in 
a shallow foot-bath at a temperature the same as 
the general bath. An attendant should dip a 
large sheet in water of the proper temperature, 
then taking the sheet by one end in both hands 
in such a manner that it can be readily spread 
out, he should lift it, dripping wet, and apply 
one corner to the patient’s shoulder in such a 
manner that the side of the sheet shall hang per- 


146 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


pendicular and just reach to the floor, and then, 
holding that corner in place on the shoulder, the 
sheet should he passed around the patient until 
he is completely enveloped in it with the excep¬ 
tion of his head. This should he done very 
quickly, fifteen or twenty seconds being all the 
time required. As soon as the sheet is applied, 
the attendant should proceed to rub the patient 
vigorously, yet carefully. The hands should pass 
three or four times over the same place, then over 
adjoining parts, and so on until every part of the 
body has received its due proportion, and should 
then be repeated ; after which, a pail of water five 
degrees cooler than the sheet may be poured on 
the chest and shoulders, and the rubbing process 
repeated for two or three minutes. The attend¬ 
ant should then remove the wet sheet, and im¬ 
mediately envelop the patient in a dry one, and 
proceed to rub him as before, continuing the op¬ 
eration until the entire surface of the body is dry, 
after which, the dry hand-rubbing and percussing 
may be vigorously given for two or three minutes. 
It is a very valuable bath for those patients who 
are too feeble to take a prolonged full-bath, or 
who may be suffering from nervous affections, 
dyspepsia, general debility, inflammation, fever, 
and in cases of feeble circulation, and local con¬ 
gestion or inflammation, as it occasions increased 
activity in the superficial circulation, and tones 
up the entire system, stimulating the nervous or- 


THE BATH. 


147 


ganism to renewed action, tlius occasioning an 
alterative effect. It also serves the purpose of an 
antispasmodic, being just the bath required in 
spasmodic affections. If the bather has a good 
degree of strength the bath may be administered 
cool; but if he is weak, or of feeble constitution, or 
nervous, it should be given either tepid or warm. 

The dripping-sheet is seldom applied cold, 
the temperature adapted to the majority of cases 
being from 85° to 95°. 


THE WET-SHEET-RUB. 

This bath differs from the preceding in that 
most of the water is wrung from the sheet before 
it is applied to the patient; it may be given over 
the carpet, and in any room in the house. In 
this bath the sheet is applied to the patient’s 
body in the same manner as is the dripping- 
sheet, and the rubbing process is precisely simi¬ 
lar. It is well adapted to persons of very feeble 
constitutions, as it is a still lighter bath than the 
preceding one. If the sheet is applied two or 
three times, it becomes equally as heavy treat¬ 
ment as the dripping-sheet. 

THE DRY-SHEET-RUB. 

This cannot be properly considered as a bath, 
yet as it is an important adjunct to all the gen¬ 
eral baths, besides being a very useful method of 
treating many forms of disease when unaccom- 





148 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


panied with water treatment, I will describe it. 

A dry sheet is thrown around the patient, so 
as to completely envelop him, all but the head, 
when an attendant proceeds to rub him from 
head to foot with the hand, rubbing briskly over 
the sheet. The rubbing should be continued for 
ten or fifteen minutes. 

This form of treatment is good for those who 
are afflicted with almost any form of chronic dis¬ 
ease, and especially for those who are troubled 
with inactivity of the skin; and it is also valua¬ 
ble for those who are in perfect health, and may 
be used as a substitute for bathing when the 
latter would be difficult. Invalids who cannot 
take water treatment without chilling afterward 
will find the dry-sheet-rub a most beneficial mode 
of treatment. It may be taken on rising in the 
morning, before dressing, or it may be deferred 
until the regular bath hour, which is three hours 
after breakfast or dinner. In cases of nervous¬ 
ness and sleeplessness, the dry-sheet-rub may be 
taken on retiring, or at any time during the 
night. 

It is well to give this form of treatment on 
alternate days on which no water treatment is 
given. 

In giving the dry-sheet-rub for the purpose of 
drying the patient after a bath, the sheet should 
be applied as previously indicated, and the body 
and limbs of the patient should be rubbed until 
they are dry and warm. 


TI1E BATH. 


149 


THE DOUCHE-BATH. 

This bath is simply a falling stream of water, 
so arranged that it shall fall on any desired part 

of the patient’s body. There are several forms 
of this bath. 

THE CATARACT-DOUCHE. 

This is a sheet of water, a foot or more in width, 
made to fall obliquely on the body. Sometimes 
two buckets are so arranged that they shall at 
the same instant discharge their contents in a 
broad sheet, striking the patient on his shoulders 
and chest. 

THE PAIL-DOUCHE. 

This is given by an attendant, who suddenly 
dashes three or four pailfuls of water over the 
chest, shoulders, back, and sides of the patient. 

THE HOSE-DOUCHE. 

This bath can be used when there is a suffi¬ 
cient fall from the tank or fountain head to force 
a stream one-half or three-fourths of an inch in 
diameter through a hose-pipe with considerable 
force, or it may be given by attaching the pipe 
to a force-pump. 

In giving this bath, the attendant holds the 
hose-pipe—which should have a properly-con- 

11 


Fim. Plivs. 



150 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


structed metallic nozzle—in his hand, and directs 
the stream to such parts of the body as it may 
be desirable to bathe in this manner. This bath 
is well adapted to inflammations, congestions, or 
enlargements of the vital organs, to tumors, 
swellings or stiffness of the joints, and, in fact, 
to nearly all local difficulties. The stream should 
be directed to the affected parts. In cases of in¬ 
flammation, it should be applied cool or cold. If 
applied cold to the entire surface of the body, it 
will produce quite a shock, and should be taken 
by those only whose powers of reaction are great; 
but as a local bath, none need fear its effects. 
When taken as a general bath, the stream should 
be directed, for a brief space of time, along the 
spinal column, then across the shoulders, sides, 
hips, and limbs. If the bowels are torpid, a 
small stream may be applied to the surface of the 
abdomen; but it should not be applied with very 
great force. 

The douche may bo given so as to produce a 
very slight degree of impression, or it may be so 
given as to produce as powerful effects as it is 
possible for the patient to bear, or any degree 
between these two points. All depends upon 
the size of the stream, the temperature of the 
water, and the amount of force with which it is 
applied. 


THE BATH. 


151 


THE AS CE 1ST DING-X) OTIC HE. 

This is simply an ascending stream of water 
passing through a pipe, as in the hose-douche. 
The nozzle of the pipe is usually fixed in the 
floor so as to throw the stream in a perpendicular 
direction. This form of bath is very useful in 
piles, prolapsus of the uterus, falling of the bow¬ 
els, constipation, etc. The stream should not be 
very strong, otherwise it might cause serious in¬ 
convenience. 

A very convenient douche-bath may be con¬ 
structed by placing a small barrel or tank in such 
a position that water from it will have a fall of 
eight to twelve feet to strike the patient’s bod}^. 
To this tank attach a short piece of hose-pipe, 
with a nozzle and stop-cock, and the bath may 
be easily managed. For local applications, an 
excellent douche can be administered by an as¬ 
sistant with the aid of a pitcher, only, which 
should be held a few feet above the point of ap¬ 
plication, a steady stream of water being poured 
from it upon the part affected. This we have 
often done with the best of results in cases of 
sprained joints, concussions, etc. In most water- 
cure establishments, the douche has been admin¬ 
istered cold in the majority of cases; but our ex¬ 
perience is in favor of the warm douche, espe¬ 
cially in treating painful swellings and inflamed 
joints. 


152 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


THE DROP-BATH. 

The drop-bath is usually applied very cold. It 
is administered by letting water fall in single 
drops from a small aperture in a vessel that has 
been elevated a few feet. It is useful in remov¬ 
ing swellings, corns, tumors, etc. This form of 
bath has been used with very great advantage 
in cases of complicated wounds and fractures, 
where it was essential that inflammation should 
be prevented. 

THE PLUNGE-BATH. 

This is the bath which swimmers take in riv¬ 
ers, lakes, ponds, and in the sea. The youth of 
both sexes usually enjoy this bath, also many 
who are not so youthful. There are persons who 
practice bathing in such places the year round, 
regardless of the temperature of the water, even 
cutting the ice in midwinter and plunging into 
the ice-cold water. It is barely possible that the 
most vigorous and robust could do this without 
injury; but it is extremely doubtful whether any 
person could bathe thus for any very great length 
of time without ruining his health. Some of the 
water-cure establishments have in a room adjoin¬ 
ing their bath-room a large tank from ten to fif- 

O '-i 

teen feet square, and four or five feet deep, filled 
with cool water, into which the patient is allowed 
to pluno-e immediatelv after taking a hot-air 

1 O t/ o 


THE BATH. 


153 


bath and many other forms of sweating baths. 
The patient is cooled, however, before taking the 
plunge-bath, which is found to be very refreshing. 
In such a tank the patient can swim or plunge 
at pleasure. The water is kept pure and of the 
right degree of temperature, by a constant stream 
of water flowing into the tank, the temperature of 
which can be controlled at pleasure. This form of 
bath confers no benefits that cannot be obtained 
from some other bath, and as it is somewhat ex¬ 
pensive when artificially prepared, it can never be¬ 
come very general in its use ; yet there are very 
many persons whose habitations are near some 
pool or stream, who will in the warm season of 
the year find both pleasure and benefit in taking 
the plunge-bath occasionally. 

THE WET-SHEET PACK. 

The wet-sheet pack is, when judiciously ad¬ 
ministered, one of the most successful modes of 
treatment that has ever been devised. It is espe- 
ciallyadapted to bilious affections, and to all kinds 
of fevers. To administer the pack successfully, 
spread on the bed or lounge two or three or more 
blankets or comforters, the number required de¬ 
pending on their thickness and the temperature of 
the weather and of the patient; three willgenerally 
be sufficient in cold weather, and two, in warm. 
Next, spread a woolen sheet or blanket over them. 
Then wet a large cotton or linen sheet, and wring 


154 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


it so that it will not drip ; or, if the patient is 
feeble, wring it still more, then spread the sheet 
over the blanket and let the patient lie down on 
it upon his back. Having done this, he should 
elevate his arms, and an attendant should fold 
the sheet over him from one side, letting it come 
close up under both arms, and drop between the 
limbs so as to completely envelop each limb by 
itself. Having done this, the patient should 
place his arms by his side or across his chest, 
when the attendant should fold the sheet over 
him from the other side, covering both arms, 
shoulders, and neck. Care should be taken to 
have the wet sheet touch all parts of the body 
and limbs, and to have it wrapped closely about 
the neck and feet; but it should not be drawn 
too tightly, for if it is, the patient will become 
restless. As soon as the sheet is properly ad¬ 
justed, each blanket should be folded separately 
across the patient, first from one side, then from 
the other, taking care to fold them about the 
neck in such a manner as to exclude all the air. 
The head should be elevated a little so that the 
patient can lie comfortable. Care must be taken 
to cover the feet carefully, so as to keep them 
warm; and if clothing fails to do this, a jug of 
hot water or a hot brick should be applied to 
them. The patient’s head should be kept cool 
while in the pack by the frequent application of 
wet cloths. It is well to have a piece of oilcloth 
two feet square spread under the patient’s head 


TIIE BATH. 


155 


to prevent wetting the bedding. If the patient’s 
feet become cold, his head will be apt to become 
hot, and ache; therefore keep the head cool and 
the feet warm. 

The temperature of the water in which the 
sheet is wet should depend altogether upon the 
conditions of the patient. If he is vigorous, and 
has a strong circulation, he will react better from 
a cool pack than from a warm or tepid one ; but 
if he is weak, or has a feeble circulation, the pack 
should be warm, or at least tepid. If the patient 
does not warm readily after entering the pack, 
more blankets should be placed over him, or hot 
bricks or bottles of hot water should be applied 
to his sides. 

The length of time that a person should remain 
in a pack varies according to circumstances. 
Some people think that sweating should always 
be induced before leaving the pack; but this is 
not essential. It is quite important, however, 
that the patient should become thoroughly warm 
before leaving ifc, and if he is inclined to remain 
chilly, a glass of hot water or of hot lemonade 
should be given him to drink. As a general rule, 
from thirty to forty-five minutes will be a suffi¬ 
cient length of time for a patient to remain in a 
pack unless he rests so comfortably that he falls 
asleep, in which case, he need not be awakened 
for an hour unless he becomes liable to chill, or 
sweats too freely, or his sleep does not appear 
to be natural. If the patient gives evidence of 


15G 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


exhaustion, or sweats profusely, take him out im¬ 
mediately, even if he has not been in the pack 
more than ten minutes. The wet-sheet pack is 
applicable in all diseases in which it is desirable 
to purify the blood, and in all spasmodic affec¬ 
tions. It allays excitement, quiets the nerves, 
and allays all irritations; and when given at a 
temperature so as to meet the actual state of the 
patient, it is the most soothing application that 
can be administered to the external surface. 

The pack is very useful in fevers. If the fever 
is high, the pack may be administered three or 
four times in the twenty-four hours, in which 
case the patient should not be allowed to remain 
in it long at any one time. In past time it was 
thought that the cold pack was the best in fevers ; 
but it is now found that the tepid pack is better 
in most cases, for the reason that the reaction 
after the cold pack is apt to increase the fever. 
In some cases it is better to apply very warm, 
and even hot, packs in fever than to give those 
of a lower temperature. If the patient continues 
to chill while in the pack, he should be taken 
out, and immediately given either a warm sitz- 
bath or full-bath; or if there is no hot water 
ready, he should take the dry-sheet rub and then 
cover up warm in bed. There is no danger, how¬ 
ever, of a patient of medium strength chilling, 
provided the blankets are properly adjusted. 
The pack should always be followed by the drip¬ 
ping-sheet, spray, or sponge-bath, after which the 


THE BATH. 


157 


dry sheet should be applied, the patient being 
wiped dry, and then well rubbed with the naked 
hand. Very feeble persons should not take this 
pack. 

THE DRY-PACK. 

This consists in packing the patient without 
the use of water. The bed and blankets are to 
be arranged the same as for giving the wet-sheet 
pack. Then, instead of using a wet sheet, a dry, 
woolen blanket is to be used. The blanket should 
be made hot and the patient wrapped in it and 
the blankets as directed for the wet-sheet pack. 
It is adapted to weak, bloodless persons who 
cannot endure water treatment. Dry heat should 
be applied to the feet, limbs, and back. 

THE HALF-PACK. 

This pack is given to persons who have feeble 
constitutions with habitually cold extremities. 
It can be given with safety to those who are too 
weak to bear a full-pack. The wet sheet extends 
only from the armpits to a little below the hips; 
but in all other respects it is given like the full- 
pack. The patients feet must be kept warm 
during and after the pack, and his head must be 
kept cool. The half-pack may be employed ad¬ 
vantageously in the treatment of inflammation of 
the lungs, pleurisy, inflammation of the liver 
stomach, bowels, kidneys, uterus, and other or¬ 
gans of the pelvis. In many cases these difticul- 


158 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ties may be fully controlled by the lialf-pack 
with no other applications whatever. With this, 
as with all other baths, the conditions of the pa¬ 
tient and the end to be accomplished must deter¬ 
mine the length of time the patient should re¬ 
main in the pack, and the temperature at which 
it should be administered. It may be applied 
either cold, cool, tepid, warm, or hot, and is use¬ 
ful in every case in which a full-pack is beneficial, 
being, however, a milder form of the pack. On 
leaving the half-pack the patient should take 
some mild bath, either the drip-slieet, spray, or 
sponge, and follow these with the dry-sheet and 
dry-hand rubbing. 

LEG-PACK. 

Many persons who suffer with habitually cold 
feet can overcome this difficulty by taking a cold 
leg and foot-pack for from twenty to sixty min¬ 
utes, or by applying cold wet cloths for a short 
time daily. The head should be wet in cold wa¬ 
ter before applying cold water to the feet. On 
removing the pack, the feet should be dipped in 
cold water for an instant, and then wiped dry and 
well rubbed and percussed with the dry hand. 

THE CHEST-PACK. 

This is a still milder form of the pack than is 
the half-pack, as the wet sheet is applied to a 
smaller portion of the body, being placed around 
the chest, and reaching from the armpits to the 


THE BATH. 


159 


hips. It is given in the same manner as is the 
fall-pack, and is applicable in all diseases of the 
chest or any of its organs. On removing the 
wet sheet, the patient should bathe and dry him¬ 
self as directed after the full-pack. 

THE CIIEST-WRAPPEE. 

The chest-wrapper should be made somewhat 
like a vest, with the exception, however, that 
while it passes around the back, and has arm¬ 
holes, the two ends in front should be sufficiently 
long to allow each to pass entirely across the 
chest, so that the breast shall be covered with two 
thicknesses. The wrapper should be made double 
thickness and of thick, cotton cloth. There should 
be two of these wrappers, one to be worn wet 
next to the flesh, which should extend a little 
below the waist, the other to be worn dry over 
the wet one, reaching to the hips, or two or three 
inches below the wet one, so as to keep all the 
moisture from the clothing. 

The chest-wrapper is useful in all inflammatory 
diseases of the chest, provided the patient is not 
too weak; and in asthma, consumption in its first 
stages, pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy, and drop¬ 
sy of the chest. All cases of recent cold in the 
chest are greatly benefited by the use of the 
chest-wrapper. It should be applied on retiring 
in the evening, and may be worn all night and 
removed in the morning; or if the patient is not 
exposed to drafts and cold air, it may be worn 


1G0 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


through the day; in which case it should not be al¬ 
lowed to become dry. It should not he worn 
more than thirty-six hours in succession. After 
wearing it that length of time, it should he laid 
aside for one or two days before again applying 
it, for if worn constantly it will be injurious. 
The best method for most patients to pursue is 
to wear it only in the night, and remove it on ris¬ 
ing in the morning. After removing it, the parts 
previously covered by it should be bathed with 
cool, or cold, water, and after drying thoroughly 
with a tow'el, should be well rubbed with the 
dry hand, so as to induce an active circulation in 
the parts. 


THE WET-GIRDLE. 

The wet-girdle sustains the same relation to 
the abdomen and small of the back that the chest- 
wrapper sustains to the chest and shoulders. It 
is made and applied in the following manner: 
Take three or four yards of strong, yet not very 
coarse, toweling; w r et enough of this to pass one 
and a third times around the body, and apply it 
in such a manner that the part most affected 
shall receive two thicknesses of the wet portion. 
Then pass the dry portion around the body so as 
to cover ail of the wet portion and prevent the 
air from coming in contact with it, as rapid evap¬ 
oration would take place if any portion of the 
wet cloth was left exposed to the atmosphere, 
and the patient would chill. 


THE BATH. 


1G1 


The wet girdle is very useful in all diseases of 
the abdominal and pelvic organs, and in all cases 
of weakened and relaxed or torpid abdominal 
muscles, and is just adapted to dyspepsia, torpid, 
congested, or inflamed livers, torpid or inflamed 
bowels, constipation, affections of the spleen and 
kidneys, inflammation of the bladder, catarrh of 
the bladder, albuminuria, uterine derangements, 
such as inflamed uterus, dysmenorrhoea, leucor- 
rhoea, and other menstrual disorders, ovarian dif¬ 
ficulties, and abdominal dropsy, in all of which 
diseases the patient will find the wet-girdle worn 
about the abdomen one of the best remedies. It 
is useful also in the early stages of diarrhea, dys¬ 
entery, cholera morbus, and cholera. 

The wet-girdle may be worn day and night in 
many chronic difficulties; but it should never be 
worn until the skin becomes sore or disorganized. 
It has been worn constantly by some patients for 
weeks at a time, only being removed to be wet 
as often as it became dry; but it always causes 
serious injury, when thus worn, as large portions 
of the skin become disorganized, forming many 
small, or a few large, running sores, which are a 
severe drain upon the patient’s vitality. 

After the wet-girdle has been worn for two or 
three days, it should be laid aside for two or three 
days, after which it may be again applied. It 
should be v r et as often as it becomes dry. The 
best way is to wear it nights, removing it each 
morning. There are patients, however, who can- 


162 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


not wear the girdle nights on account of chilling 
while sleeping. Such persons should leave it off 
nights and wear it only in the middle of the day. 
It should never be worn when it causes chilliness. 
If the patient finds, after wearing the wet-girdle 
for a time, that the skin is becoming irritable, or 
painful, or if an eruption or a rash makes its ap¬ 
pearance, its use should be discontinued at once. 
Whenever the wet-girdle is removed, the parts 
previously covered by it should be bathed in cool 
water and well dried and rubbed as after other 
baths. The wet-girdle should usually be applied 
warm or tepid, unless there is active inflamma¬ 
tion, in which case it may be applied cool. 

THE WET-COMPRESS. 

* 

This is simply a towel or some other cloth folded 
three or four times, and wet in water of any tem¬ 
perature, and applied over the affected part, with 
two or three thicknesses of dry cloth to prevent 
the clothing from becoming wet. The wet-com¬ 
press is used as a means of making a local appli¬ 
cation when it is not desirable to administer any 
of the previously mentioned appliances. It is 
useful in any local difficulty, especially diseases 
of the chest and abdomen. 

THE WET HEAD-CAP. 

The wet head-cap consists of two or three 
thicknesses of cotton or linen made into a cap to 
cover the head above the ears. In applying it, 


THE BATH. 


163 


it should be dipped in tepid, cool, or cold water, 
and may be used in cases of congested brain, pe¬ 
riodical headache, rush of blood to the head, 
inflammation of the brain, and scald head. The 
wet head-cap is useful as a temporary applica¬ 
tion in all the above-named difficulties; but it is 
very hurtful when worn constantly. 

In all the above-named diseases, the special 
remedial process should be the hip-bath and 
foot-bath, with the wet head-cap applied tempo¬ 
rarily. The wet head-cap worn under the hat or 
bonnet during temporary exposure to the sun is 
very beneficial, as the evaporation will tend to 
keep the head cool. In chronic diseases, the 
case is different. The reaction is so great, if the 
cold application is prolonged, that permanent 
congestion is induced, which is exactly the oppo¬ 
site of the condition desired. 

FOMENTATION. 

This is the application of heat and moisture to 
some part of the body. In applying the fomen¬ 
tation, a flannel cloth should be folded so as to 
be of three or four thicknesses, and sufficiently 
large to cover the parts which it is desirable to 
treat. If the fomentation is to be applied to the 
chest, shoulders, or neck, the folded cloth should 
be about twelve inches square, or twelve by fif¬ 
teen inches. If it is to be applied over the re¬ 
gion of the liver, stomach, or bowels, it should be 
twelve by eighteen inches. After folding this 


164 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


cloth, it should be carefully rolled and dipped in 
very hot water, and should then be applied as 
hot as the patient can bear, after being wrung 
quite dry. It is a good plan to leave the ends of 
the roll dry, so that the cloth can be wrung out 
warmer; but if the ends of the cloth become wet 
in the hot water, the attendant can dip his hands 
in cold water several times while wringing it, 
and by so doing can apply it hotter than he 
otherwise could. The hot cloth should be cov¬ 
ered with several thicknesses of dry, so as to 
keep all of the steam in and keep the clothes dry. 
The fomentation should be continued for fifteen to 
thirty minutes, the cloths being reapplied every 
five or ten minutes. The hot fomentation should 
always be followed immediately with the appli¬ 
cation of a cold wet cloth to the part, which 
should be allowed to remain four or five minutes. 
In some cases, it will be best to alternate the hot 
cloth with the cold two or three times, always 
beginning with the hot and ending with the 
cold. As a general thing, hot fomentations 
should not be continued more than twenty-five 
minutes without alternating with the cold wet 
cloth, except in cases of severe pain, such as pleu¬ 
risy, etc. 

Fomentations are specially adapted to chronic 
congestions of the liver, spleen, stomach, and, in 
fact, to all inflammations attended with much 
pain and little heat, whether chronic or acute. 
It is also well suited to all visceral congestions, 


TIIE BATH. 


165 


or rheumatic affections, unattended with fever, 
and to rigid, torpid, or contracted muscles, and 
local pains, aches, cramps, etc., when fever is not 
present. In pneumonia and pleurisy, it is 
thought by some of the best hygienic physicians 
that the hot fomentation should be applied to the 
back and shoulders with cool or cold applications 
in front, over the seat of the pain. Others apply 
the hot cloths immediately over the location of 
the pain, alternating, after twenty-five or thirty 
minutes, with cold. This method is found to be 
very successful. In case the patient is nervous, 
the prolonged warm fomentation is sometimes 
better than the hot, and may be continued two 
or three hours. 

The following report of a case in my own 
practice will show how effectual fomentations are 
in relieving pain and reducing inflammation. I 
was traveling in Yolo Co., Cal., in the fall of 
1872. In passing the residence of an acquaint¬ 
ance, I was induced to stop for the night. After 
remaining in the house for a short time, my at¬ 
tention was attracted by groans in an adjoining 
room; and in answer to inquiries I learned that 
they came from the hired man, who was very 
sick—so sick that he could not breathe without 
groaning with pain—and that he had employed 
a drug; doctor, who had attended him for a week, 
but that he was growing worse very fast. On 
examination I found that the patient was taking 

Fara TT.j-.s. 1 2 


1GC 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


five kinds of medicine, and that a fly blister as 
large as a man’s hand had been raised; yet so 
severe was the pleurisy pain that the patient 
was not aware of the blister, and it had been 
nearly a day since it was applied. I applied hot 
fomentations for nearly an hour, alternating with 
cold once or twice in the meantime, at the end of 
which time the patient was so far eased from the 
pain as to sleep well, which he had been unable 
to do for several days and nights previous. In 
the morning he had no pain other than that caused 
by the blister. The doctor had given sweet spir¬ 
its of niter, nitric acid, turpentine, and nine oth¬ 
er drugs and mixtures during the six days he 
had treated him; and, as a result, the patient 
was nearly drugged to death. I treated him hy- 
gienically for six days, at the end of which time 
he was out of danger. 

THE HEAD-BATH. 

This bath may be administered by pouring 
water on the head, or by lying on the back with 
the back or crown of the head in a basin of water. 
The object of this bath is to cool the head more 
effectually than can be done by wet cloths. The 
head-bath should be continued only until the 
head has been sufficiently cooled. It may be ad¬ 
ministered by pouring a stream of water from a 
dipper or pitcher, applying the stream principally 
to the temples and back part and base of the head. 


THE BATH. 


167 


The water may be tepid to commence with, 
and by the end of the process, which should last 
eight or ten minutes, it will be quite, cool. The 
head will usually be greatly relieved. The pour¬ 
ing liead-bath is applicable to epilepsy, hysteria, 
delirium tremens, and diseases that are attend¬ 
ed with determination of blood to the head. In 
many cases of threatened fever, the fever may be 
averted by the pouring head-bath of cold water 
applied to the temples and back of head and 
neck, two or three minutes at a time every ten or 
fifteen minutes for two or three hours. In cases 
of brain fever, the head-bath should be applied 
quite hot for five minutes at a time, with cool 
applications for two or three minutes immediately 
following. Brain fever may be treated by hot 
fomentations full as well as by the hot pouring- 
bath. When treated with fomentations, the 
cloths should be kept as hot as the patient can 
bear, and should be applied to the whole scalp, 
and back and sides of the neck. Cold or cool 
applications should be made after every form of hot 
bath or hot application, so as to cool the parts to 
which heat had been previously applied. The hot 
head-bath or hot fomentations to the head, neck, 
and spine, foil owed by cold applications to the same 
parts as previously directed, is the proper treat¬ 
ment for cerebro-spinal meningitis, or spotted 
fever. 


168 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


THE ARM-BATH. 

This bath is simply the local application of 
water to the arm. It may be taken either by 
holding the arm in water, or by holding it under 
a falling stream of water, or by applying wet 
cloths. Ulcers, chronic swellings, wounds, bruises, 
sprains, and inflammations of the arm are greatly 
benefited by the use of this bath. Sometimes, in 
the case of wounds and bruises, the inflammation 
becomes very intense, the part swelling to more 
than twice its natural size, and becoming intense¬ 
ly hot; such cases can be brought under perfect 
control by the cold arm-bath. No one need fear 
taking cold in an inflamed wound by holding the 
part in cold water; for so long as any inflamma¬ 
tion or preternatural heat remains, just so long 
there is no danger of taking cold by applying 
cold water to the inflamed part. 

THE LEG-BATH. 

* 

This bath is useful in treating all chronic 
swellings of the limbs and joints, be they caused 
by gout, rheumatism, or by the use of mercury. 
It is also excellent for old ulcers, bruises, and 
wounds, and for headache and toothache. If 
drugging, bleeding, or blistering is resorted to in 
rheumatic affections, there is great danger of the 
removal of the disease to the membranes of the 
heart, brain, stomach, lungs, and other membranes 


THE BATH. 


1G9 


of the body; while there is no danger whatever 
in using water on the parts affected, if proper at¬ 
tention is paid to the general conditions of the 
system by living hygienically. In very painful 
affections of the leg, the warm bath should be ad¬ 
ministered for a few minutes before the cold ap¬ 
plication. 

THE EYE AND EAR-BATH. 

Whenever the eye or ear is affected by any 
inflammatory disease, wet cloths of a tempera¬ 
ture the most agreeable should be applied to 
them, or the water may be applied by a gentle 
shower bath, or by pouring, or the eyes may be 
held open in clear, soft water. In severe inflam¬ 
mations of either of these organs, hot fomenta¬ 
tions, alternated with cold applications, will be 
found beneficial. If gatherings form and break 
in the ear, it should be syringed out with tepid 
water. 


THE NASAL-BATH. 

All cases of catarrh, or inflammation of the mu¬ 
cous membrane of the nose, will receive more or 
less benefit by drawing cool or tepid water into 
the nose. In cases of bleeding at the nose, the 
coldest water should be used, and should also be 
applied to the back of the neck and head. 


170 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


THE ELECTRIC-BATH. 

This is the application of electricity in connec¬ 
tion with some form of bath. This bath is very 
useful in treating the sick, many forms of disease 
yielding to its potent influences that cannot be 
affected by any other form of treatment. The 
electric-bath can only be safely administered by 
an experienced operator, and therefore cannot 
become very popular in home practice. Most 
health institutions use the electric-bath, and it 
is found to be especially beneficial in treating 
rheumatism, both acute and chronic, gout, sci¬ 
atica, paralysis, constipation, piles, fevers, tumors, 
dyspepsia, neuralgia, liver complaints, and in 
eliminating mineral poisons from the system. 

REFRIGERATIONS. 

Hygienic physicians make use of cold water, 
ice, and various freezing mixtures, as refrigera¬ 
tors. Cold water and ice are used in reducing 
local swellings and inflammations. In the first 
stages of severe inflammation of the throat or any 
of its organs, ice-water or bits of ice held in the 
mouth or gargled in the throat is one of the best 
of remedies. A cold compress should be kept 
upon the throat, and the feet should be placed in 
hot water at the same time. Many suffering with 
croup, diptheria, quinsy, acute laryngitis, malig¬ 
nant scarlatina, or putrid sore throat, have found 


T1IE BATH. 


171 


speedy relief by these applications, who must 
otherwise have died. The best freezing mixture 
is made of equal parts of pounded ice and com¬ 
mon salt, or of two parts of snow and one of salt. 
This should be applied to the part which it is 
desirable to freeze. If ice or snow cannot be ob¬ 
tained, rhigoline applied in the form of fine spray 
will freeze the parts by its rapid evaporation. 

Felons and cancers may be arrested in their 
growth by frequent freezing, and small cancers 
may be destroyed and removed by absorption if 
repeatedly frozen. No serious injury will follow 
these applications of the freezing mixtures if the 
thawing-out process is properly managed. The 
frozen parts should be thawed by applying snow, 
pounded ice, or cloths wet in the coldest water, 
until all pain or smarting has ceased, and the 
part is restored to its natural condition. The 
part should not be bent or pressed while in the 
frozen condition, as that would break the tissues, 
and cause soreness of the part. Refrigerations 
are very useful for the purpose of arresting 
hemorrhage. 

In applying ice or ice-water to the spine, it is 
best to use long, narrow, rubber bags. They 
should be from two to three inches wide, and 
from fourteen to twenty inches long. These 
may be filled with ice-water or pounded ice, and 
then applied to the back along either side of the 
spine. Cold applied to the spine in this manner 
will often bring a person safely out of a conges- 


172 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


tive chill when everything else fails. These 
cold applications to the spine are very beneficial 
in treating; inflammation of the brain, convulsions, 
epilepsy, paralysis, inflammation of the stomach, 
kidneys, and uterus, diarrhea, and dysentery. 

WATER DUINKXNG. 

Soft water is by far the most preferable drink 
that a human being can use. As a general rule, 
the sense of thirst should be the guide both in 
sickness and health as to time of drinking and 
amount to be taken. If, however, the person is 
very thirsty, he should drink very slowly ; or if 
he is very warm from exercise or artificial heat, 
he should not only drink very slowly, but should 
also drink very moderately. Ice-water, if drunk, 
should be taken very cautiously. Many persons 
induce serious diseases by drinking large cjuanti- 
ties of ice-water when very warm from exercise. 
Drinks of all kinds should bo abstained from at 
meals. Water drinking at proper times and in 
proper quantities subdues morbid cravings, cools 
the heat of fever, relieves internal congestions, 
allays inflammation, and aids in purifying the 
blood and in regulating the circulation. In all 
inflammatory and febrile diseases, cool water may 
be taken until the patient is satisfied. If the 
patient is strong and has a high fever, he may 
drink finely of cold water; but if weak, with low 
circulation, the water should not be cold, and 
should be taken in very small quantities at a 


TIIE BATH. 


173 


time, yet it may be taken very often. If the 
patient is too weak to rise to drink, he should 
suck the water through a straw or somethin^ 
similar. If the lips and tongue are cracked, as 
is often the case in typhoid fever, a wet cloth 
should be constantly applied to them. 

WATSS EMETICS. 

There is no necessity for taking any animal, 
vegetable, or mineral poison for the purpose of 
relieving the stomach of any morbid or injurious 
matter that it may contain. A far better way 
to accomplish this result is to drink copiously 
of warm water, filling the stomach unless vom¬ 
iting is sooner induced. After drinking all the 
water the stomach will hold, tickle the throat 
with a feather or the finger, and vomiting will be 
speedily induced. In this manner the stomach 
may be freed of its contents without that retch¬ 
ing, straining, and cramping which usually oc¬ 
cur in connection with vomiting induced by 
drugs. 

CLYSTERS OR ENEMAS. 

Cathartics and purging poisons of all kinds 
should be religiously abstained from, for they are 
not only wholly unnecessary, but they are also 
positively injurious. Clysters or enemas of warm 
water are just as efficient in cleansing the bowels 
of fecal accumulations, and not only so, but it 
can be done much quicker with clysters than 


174 HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

with drugs and medicines in the form of powders 
and pills, and without any of the pain which ac¬ 
companies the violent purging produced by drugs. 
To free the bowels of obstructions, inject into 
them as much tepid water as they can receive. 
This is best done with a rubber syringe.* Small 
quantities of cold water should be injected into 
them and retained, in cases of excessive hem¬ 
orrhage of the bowels. In the stage of collapse, 
when the surface becomes cold, as is often the 
case in cholera, copious injections of water as 
warm as the patient can bear should be adminis¬ 
tered. 

THE HOT-AIR-BATH. 

This is simply the application of dry heat to 
the surface of the body by means of hot air. It 
is very useful when it is desired to sweat the pa¬ 
tient. This bath is very easily administered. 
The patient is seated in a chair with a large, 
thick sheet or blanket thrown around him, so as 
to completely envelop both him and the chair on 
which he sits, with the exception of his head. 
The blanket must fit closely about his neck, and 
must lie close to the floor, so as to retain all the 
heat. After wetting the patient’s head with cold 
water, a cold, wet cloth should be applied to it. 
A lighted spirit lamp, carefully guarded, should 
now be placed under the sheet. A cup of burn- 


* The Fountain Syringe is the best. It is for sale at the office 
of the Health Reformer, Battle Creek, Michigan. Price by 
mail, post-paid, three dollars. 





THE BATH. 


1 1 D 


ing alcohol set in a basin of water, and placed 
between his feet or under the chair, which should 
have a wooden seat, is the safest method. In a 
few moments sufficient heat h generated to cause 
a profuse perspiration. 

On leaving the hot-air-bath the patient should 
take a cool sponge-bath, or some other light, cool 
bath, and wipe dry, rubbing himself well with 
the naked hand. This bath can be administered 
to feeble persons in their bed by having a light 
frame-work of hoops to elevate the bed-clothes. 
The hot-air bath is indicated in bilious and drop¬ 
sical affections, also in all cases of plethora, obes¬ 
ity, and grossness. It is very useful also in re¬ 
moving a recent cold by inducing an active and 
increased superficial circulation, which at once 
relieves the congested organ. 

THE VAPOR-BATH. 

A very good steam-bath can be taken in a 
cane-seat chair, with blankets arranged as di¬ 
rected for taking the hot-air-bath. After the pa¬ 
tient is properly arranged in his chair, a pan of 
hot water should be placed under the chair, into 
which hot bricks, irons, or stones, should be placed 
from time to time. These will cause the imme¬ 
diate generation of a large amount of steam. 

Another very good way is to have a piece of 
rubber or tin tubing, one end of which fits the 
spout of the tea-kettle, which should contain boil- 
in water. The other end of the tubing should 


176 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


bo placed under the blanket with which the pa¬ 
tient is enveloped. The vapor-bath is applicable 
in all cases to which the hot-air bath is adapted; 
viz., in all cases, when the patient is not much 
weakened, in which it is desired to remove ob¬ 
structions, grossness, or dropsical accumulations, 
or to promote absorption of adipose matter, or to 
remove a recent cold. This is a most excellent 
bath for rheumatic affections. Like all other hot 
baths, the vapor-bath should be immediately fol¬ 
lowed by some form of cool bath, after which the 
dry rubbing-sheet and dry-hand rubbing should 
be applied. 

COOL-AIR-BATH. 

The cool-air bath is useful to allay nervousness, 
and to induce sleep. If after retiring for the 
night a person is restless and nervous, and cannot 
sleep, he should rise and take a cool sponge-bath ; 
if it cannot be conveniently done, he should throw 
open the bed to air, then remove his night gar¬ 
ments and walk his room for a few minutes, rub¬ 
bing himself gently at the same time. This he 
may continue for three to fifteen minutes, accord¬ 
ing to the temperature of the air, being careful 
to avoid chilling. He should then resume his 
night clothes and return to his bed, and in nine 
cases out of ten he will drop immediately to 
sleep; and, if undisturbed, will sleep several 
hours. 


THE BATII. 


177 


THE SUN-BATH. 

The sun is the great source of life to both the 
vegetable and animal kingdoms. In fact, all the 
forces of which we have any knowledge, origin¬ 
ate in the sun. Without its influence, no plant 
or animal could long survive. One of the chief 
reasons why women and children are more feeble 
and sickly than men is because they are less in the 
sunshine than are the men. If the nude surface 
of every human being were exposed daily to the 
rays of the sun for thirty minutes, the result 
would be that the race would in a few years be¬ 
come possessed of twice the constitutional power 
and vigor they now have. All would be hardier, 
and many who are now invalids would soon be¬ 
come strong and healthy. Health institutes usu¬ 
ally have rooms for sun-baths arranged so that 
the rays of the sun fall through a window in the 
roof of the room so as to strike the naked body 
of the patient as he reclines on a cot. The sun’s 
rays should not fall on the patient’s head, and 
the room should be well ventilated, although a 
draft of air should not be allowed to strike the 
patient. The patient should rub his body well 
with the dry hand while taking the bath. The 
sun-bath may be limited to five minutes, or it 
may be prolonged to thirty or forty minutes ; all 
depends upon the strength and conditions of the 
patient. He should not become fatigued nor 
chilly, nor should he perspire much unless he is 


178 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


dropsical or gross, in either of which cases sweat¬ 
ing would be beneficial. The sun-bath is adapt¬ 
ed to scrofulous cases, torpidity of the skin, weak 
and flaccid muscles, chlorosis, amenorrhea, defi¬ 
cient superficial circulation, dyspepsia, defective 
circulation, and consumption. Chronic patients 
who have always lived in-doors should, if possi¬ 
ble, take sun-baths daily, no matter what their 
ailment. 

HAND-RUBBING. 

ITand-rubbings have been often spoken of in 
the preceding pages. They consist of a brisk 
rubbing of all parts of the body with the dry 
hand. A soft flesh-brush, towel, or sponge, is fre¬ 
quently used, but the bare hand is better. The 
patient, if able, should stand while the attendant 
vigorously rubs the entire surface of the body un¬ 
til the skin is flushed and the surface thoroughly 
warm. Feeble patients may be rubbed ten or 
fifteen minutes while lying in bed, the hand be¬ 
ing introduced under the bed clothing if there is 
danger of the patient being chilled by the remov¬ 
al of the clothing. The dry-hand rub is well 
adapted to patients who are bedridden, or are ex¬ 
tremely emaciated, or who are too feeble to en¬ 
dure the exercise required in taking a water bath. 
Vigorous liand-rubbings promote the superficial 
circulation, while gentle, light rubbings, soothe 
the nerves and quiet the patient if he is restless. 


TIIE BATH. 


179 


MOVEMENTS. 

Without exercise, there can he no health. 
Many invalids are made such for want of proper 
exercise; and especially is this the case with ma¬ 
ny of the invalid wives and daughters of the 
wealthy. Brought up to the belief that labor is 
a disgrace, they spend much of their time over 
the yellow-covered literature of the day, and do 
not take sufficient exercise to keep healthy. 

Movements are beneficial to all patients who 
have become diseased through lack of exercise. 
There are three classes of movements adapted to 
the requirements of patients : 1. The active, or 
those which are executed by the patient; 2. The 
passive, or those which are executed by an as¬ 
sistant or operator; 3. The combined, or those 
in which both the patient and the operator are 
active. They are local or general accoiding as 
they are applied to a part, or the whole, of the 
body. 

Movements, or exercise, increase and regulate 
the circulation, improve digestion, and tone up 
the entire system. They strengthen the weak 
muscles, restore paralyzed limbs, overcome de¬ 
formity and contraction of the muscles. So uni¬ 
versal is the acknowledgment of the fact that 
movements are a powerful hygienic and remedial 
ao-ent, that larofe cures have been established in 

O 7 O 

several countries, where invalids are successfully 


180 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


treated and cured by this agency alone. In Swe¬ 
den there are four such institutions; and as it 
was in Sweden that this system of treating the 
sick originated, it has received the name of the 
Swedish Movement Cure. 

Patients who are too feeble to take active ex¬ 
ercise, require passive or combined movements. 
In giving the movements, the operator should en¬ 
deavor to bring into action all the voluntary 
muscles. This may be none by imitating the 
various natural movements of the limbs and the 
body, in which case the patient should offer 
slight resistance to the efforts of the operator; or 
the operator may knead the flesh, and roll it gen¬ 
tly under the hand, or percuss it gently with 
either the flat or edge of the hand. 

There is, however, no exercise so promotive of 
health as out-door work. All other movements 
should be considered as inferior, and only to be 
tolerated until the patient is able to take exer¬ 
cise in the open air, at some kind of labor. The 
reason why labor is so much more conducive to 
health than is any other kind of exercise, is be¬ 
cause the mind has an object before it, and is 
consequently occupied. 


THE BATII. 


181 


THE TURKISH-BATH. 

The Turkisli-bath, as administered in oriental 
countries, is a valuable bath in rheumatic and 
bilious affections. It is a very warm, moist air- 
bath, being in fact a hot-air and vapor-bath com¬ 
bined, the air of the room being densely charged 
with vapor by pouring water upon hot stones. 
The temperature is at the same time raised to 
between 122° and 145°. The patient is kept in 
this room until he perspires freely, and he is then 
allowed to pass directly to a cool full-bath. 

The so-called Turkish-baths of America are 
simply liot-air-baths, and are extremely injurious 
to most patients on account of the extreme tem¬ 
perature. As given in New York and Brooklyn, 
they cause, if frequently indulged in, serious brain 
congestions. Many who have repeatedly taken 
the Americanized Turkish-bath have thereby so 
complicated their difficulties as to be beyond help. 
The Turkish-bath is useful in removing local con¬ 
gestions—those of the head excepted—in clearing 
the pores, and in inducing a healthy condition of 
the skin and mucous membranes, in eliminating 
noxious matters from the blood, and in imparting 
a sense of elasticity and vigor to the system. 
Hence, it is recommended in bilious affections, in 
dropsy originating in kidney or liver complaint, 
in rheumatism, in gout, in many forms of skin dis¬ 
ease, in all forms of grossness, and all cases of 

13 


Fain, riiys. 


182 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


obesity when unaccompanied with plethora. It 
is injurious in pdl congestions of the brain, in all 
diseases of the heart, and vessels attended with 
fatty degeneracy, and in all diseases of the nerve 
centers, or where there is a tendency to dizziness 
or syncope, and in advanced life. 

Women who are enceinte should not take this 
bath, neither should those who are suffering with 
monthly illness. 

There is no form of disease for which the 
Turkisli-bath is beneficial that will not derive 
equal benefit from the hot-air and vapor-baths 
previously described. 

THE SAND-BATH. 

In many countries the sand-bath is given for 
the purpose of inducing a sweat. The patient is 
taken to a bed of hot sand on the margin of a 
stream or body of water, and is covered with the 
sand until he sweats freety, after which he 
plunges into the cool water and washes off 
briskly, and then dresses, feeling much invigor¬ 
ated, and quite relieved of any aches and pains 
he may previously have suffered. Some benefit 
may be derived from this bath in certain diseases 
in which it is desirable to promote depuration by 
the skin, yet the wet-sheet-pack, or the dry- 
pack, or the vapor, or hot-air-bath, will be found 
to confer much greater benefits. 


TIIE EATII. 


183 


THE MUD-BATH. 

In some countries, fevers are treated by im¬ 
mersing the patient, all but his face, in cool mud. 
There can be no doubt but this form of bath will 
be found quite efficacious, yet clean water will be 
found still more so. 

THE ANIMAL-BATH. 

This so-called bath consists in wrapping the 
body, or some part thereof, in the fresh skin of 
an animal or in binding the flesh of a freshly 
slaughtered animal about the parts affected. 
These applications are found to be quite sooth¬ 
ing in certain diseases, but not more so than the 
cool or tepid compress; therefore, possess no 
special merits. 

TIIE OIL-BATH. 

The oil-bath consists in giving the patient an 
anointing with oil of some kind, which is well 
rubbed in with the naked hand. This bath will 
soften the skin, and in those who are aged and 
feeble, with low temperature, it fills the pores of 
the skin, thereby preventing the evaporation and 
consequent loss of heat. Many hygienic physi¬ 
cians make use of the oil-bath for the purposes 
above mentioned, yet if wet and dry hand rub¬ 
bings are properly applied, and a sufficiency of 
clothing worn, the same ends may be accomplished 


184 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


mucli better without the oil than with it; for by 
filling the pores of the skin, depuration is ob¬ 
structed. 

THE INDIAN SWEAT HOUSE. 

The Digger Indians, of California, are in the 
habit of treating rheumatism, and all bilious af¬ 
fections, by sweating the patient. To do this, 
they have in all their villages or rancheries what 
may be termed a sweat house. It is made as fol¬ 
lows : A circular excavation is made in the earth 
from twelve to twenty feet in diameter and about 
two feet deep. Poles are set at the outer edges 
of this excavation in such a manner that the tops 
meet over the center, each pole standing at an 
angle of about forty-five degrees. Over these 
poles there is laid a coating of brush, straw, and 
earth. There is a hole left in the roof midway 
between the ground and the peak, about twenty 
inches square, through which they pass in and 
out of the house. 

When it is desired to give or take a sweat, 
the Indian builds a fire in the center of the sweat 
house, the smoke passing out through the above- 
mentioned opening. He then removes his gar¬ 
ments, and in a short time is in a profuse perspi¬ 
ration. 

A few years since, it was customary for all the 
members of the Indian village to take a sweat 
every few weeks, in which case fire was unneces¬ 
sary. As many as could be huddled together 


THE BATH. 


185 


would enter, and in a few moments their bodies 
would generate sufficient heat to induce profuse 
perspiration. Some of these houses would hold 
from fifty to a hundred persons. 

The Chippewa and other Indian tribes of 
Michigan, for many years, have used sweat-baths 
in treating fevers and congestions. They place 
poles in the ground in such a position that, when 
covered with skins or blankets, a conical tent is 
formed about six feet in bight with a base ot 
about six feet. The patient is then placed in 
this tent, also a pail of water into which red-hot 
stones are placed, thus forming a most perfect 
vapor-bath. 

The above description has not been given with 
the idea of recommending the use of the sweat 
house, but to show that the plan of depurating 
the system through the skin in treating certain 
forms of disease is well understood and practiced 
by some of the lowest classes of human beings. 

MINERAL SPRINGS. 

There is resting in the minds of the majority of 
civilized human beings the idea that if pure wa¬ 
ter is beneficial in the treatment of disease, then 
water which contains some mineral must be still 
more beneficial when applied either externally or 
internally. Hence, in all civilized countries, most 
springs that are known to contain a variety of 
mineral impurities are resorted to by hundreds, 
and many, by thousands, of invalids yearly who 


186 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


drink of, and bathe in, the impure water with the 
expectation that the impurities of the water will 
impart to them health and vigor. There never 
was a greater mistake made than this, yet there 
are many who, after a few weeks’ or months’ 
stay at these springs, leave with health appar¬ 
ently improved. They suppose that all is due to 
the medicinal properties of the water, and, conse¬ 
quently, they advise every invalid they meet to 
go and try the springs. Could the same invalids 
foresee the ills that they must suffer in after 
years as the result of a few months’ use of min¬ 
eral water, they would be extremely wary how 
they either use or advise others to use such water. 

No benefit is received from the use of mineral 
water that might not be received in still greater 
amount by the use of pure water. It is true that 
many who drink of, and bathe in, mineral water 
experience, after a short time, a great change in 
their feelings and symptoms, and think themselves 
better; but that this change is produced in whole, 
or even in part, by the mineral substances con¬ 
tained in the water is by no means certain; on 
the other hand, it is extremely doubtful whether 
this is the case, for the reason that mineral water 
contains no substances that are not administered 
freely by every drug physician for those very 
complaints for which the patient visits the 
springs, and, in most cases, substances identical 
in character had been taken freely by the patient 
without benefit. This fact and the additional 


THE BATII. 


187 


fact that pure water, when properly applied in 
the treatment of similar diseases, always results 
in lasting benefit, and the still further additional 
fact that nearly every patient who visits mineral 
springs has not been in the habit of using water 
sufficiently often for the common purposes of 
health, indicate that the minerals in the water 
did not make it any more efficacious. When we 
add to these the fact that whatever change can 
be wrought in a patient’s mind to inspire hope, 
expectation, and confidence, will always be of 
great benefit, and that the change of scenery and 
surroundings does inspire these feelings in the 
minds of ninety-nine out of every one hundred 
who visit such places, we must conclude that the 
change that takes place in their cases is owing to 
the changes that have taken place in their mate¬ 
rial surroundings and in their habits of life; and 
not only this, but that if they had used pure, 
soft water as freely and in the same manner that 
they did the mineral water, they would have de¬ 
rived much greater benefit from its use. 

We are strengthened in this conclusion by the 
fact that nearly every patient who uses mineral 
water freely for any length of time, finds him¬ 
self afflicted with some serious chronic disease 
which is directly traceable to its use for its ori¬ 
gin. 

Let not the reader gather from the foregoing re¬ 
marks the idea that mineral waters do not occa¬ 
sion what the physicians call a “ medicinal effect, 


188 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


for they do, and in the same way that all medicines 
do; but this “ medicinal effect/” as we have shown 
in Part II., is nothing more nor less than vital re¬ 
sistance, or an effort on the part of the vital or¬ 
ganism to expel whatever substance occasioned 
or produced the “ medicinal effect.” Now, since 
all such efforts waste the patients vitality, and 
in the end weaken his constitutional vigor, they 
are to be avoided at all times; and to do this, it is 
necessary to avoid receiving into our systems, or 
in any way using, any of those substances that 
occasion such effects, even though they be in min¬ 
eral waters. 

It is true that impure water may be used for 
bathing purposes with less injury to the patient 
than will occur if he drinks the same water; yet, 
since water, and whatever substance it may hold 
in solution, is freely absorbed through the pores 
of the skin, it is far better that we should use 
nothing but pure, soft water for bathing pur¬ 
poses. 


MEDICATED- BATHS. 

The great popularity of mineral springs, to¬ 
gether with the fact that in the minds of most 
people there exists an idea that mineral water is 
more healthful for the sick than that which is 
pure, has led to the preparation of artificially 
medicated baths in many cities. 

In preparing these, the physician strives to im¬ 
itate nature in some instances by producing min- 


THE BATH. 


189 


eralized, saline, alkaline, and acid baths, while 
others have sought to improve the mineral-bath 
by adding thereto oleaginous, spirituous, and gas¬ 
eous compounds and fumegations, apparently 
thinking that if they could succeed in producing 
a bath that should at once contain some of the 
supposed infernal stenches of pandemonium, as 
well as some of the impurities of this earth, that 
they had indeed succeeded in producing an “ an¬ 
tidote ” to disease in all its multitudinous forms. 
Absurd as is the idea of such baths being capa¬ 
ble of restoring health to the sick, nevertheless 
hundreds of them have been prepared, and what 
will doubtless strike the reader as still more ab¬ 
surd, to save expense, the same water in most 
cases was used over and over again in treating 
different patients suffering with various diseases. 
This has been done by educated men, who pro¬ 
fessed to be the conservators of the health of the 
people. It is unnecessary to say anything further 
against the use of these baths, as all that has been 
said concerning the impropriety of using the wa¬ 
ter of mineral springs applies with equal force 
to the medicated baths. 

The following are a few of the many medicated 
baths that are in use at the present time, both in 
this country and in Europe :— 

The Acid-Bath is made by adding from eight 
ounces to two pounds of muriatic acid to sixty- 
six gallons of water. 

The Alkaline-Bath, by adding from eight 


190 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


to sixteen ounces of pearlasli to sixty-six gallons 
of water. 

The Borax-Bath, by adding four ounces of 
borax and three fluid ounces of glycerine to thir¬ 
ty gallons of hot water. 

The Conium and Starch-Bath, by adding 
one ounce of extract of conium and one pound of 
pulverized starch to thirty gallons of hot water. 

The Creosote-Bath, by adding three fluid 
drachms of creosote and four fluid ounces of glyc¬ 
erine to thirty gallons of hot water. 

The Potassium-Sulphuret-Bath, by adding 
four ounces of potassium sulphuret to sixty gal¬ 
lons of water. 

The Nitro-Hydrochloric-Acid-Bath, by ad¬ 
ding twelve ounces of nitric acid and one ounce 
of hydrochloric acid to thirty gallons of hot 
water. 

The Gelatinous-Bath, by adding glue to 
the water. 

The Sulphur-Bath, by adding two ounces of 
diluted sulphuric acid and eight ounces of sul¬ 
phuret of potassium to thirty gallons of water. 

The Tan-Bath, by boiling two or three hand¬ 
fuls of ground oak bark in two or three quarts 
of water, and adding the liquid to the bath. 

I he Arsenical-Bath, by adding a preparation 
of arsenious acid, nitrate of soda, carbonate of 
soda, sulphate of soda, and salt, with sufficient 
water for a bath. 

All of the preceding medicated baths are in 


THE BATH. 


191 


constant use in many large cities, yet they are 
all not only useless so far as the medicating of 
them is concerned, but they are positively in¬ 
jurious to the human system, and should never be 
used. 


DIET FOB THE SICK. 

Food for the sick should be nutritious, easy of 
digestion, and free from oily or fatty substances. 
The following articles should be religiously ab¬ 
stained from : pork, fats, butter, salted or smoked 
meats, and in many cases, all kinds of meats, salt 
fish, and most kinds of fresh fish, lobsters, clams, 
and oysters, rich gravies, and greasy soups, mus¬ 
tard, pepper, spices of all kinds, vinegar, pickles, 
raw vegetables of all kinds, cheese, rich pastry 
and puddings, oily nuts, tea, coffee, condiments of 
every kind, rich preserves, hard boiled eggs, fried 
eggs, and fried food of all kinds, distilled and fer¬ 
mented liquors of every kind, and whatever else 
impairs or injures digestion. 

If the patient is suffering with severe acute 
disease, he should take very little food, and that 
should be prepared in as plain and simple a man¬ 
ner as possible. This class of patients should 
subsist upon gruel made from some kind of meal; 
such as wheat, oat, corn, or barley meal. It may 
be given without milk, or with the addition of 
one-third milk. Milk toast, dry toast, boiled rice, 
wheat-meal and oat-meal mush, ripe fruit, either 
cooked or uncooked, baked apples, etc., arc all good 


192 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


food for the sick; but they should be taken in 
small quantities by those who are suffering with 
febrile diseases. 

As a general rule, chronic invalids will find it 
far better for their health to partake of food but 
twice in the twenty-four hours than to eat often- 
er. They should breakfast at from seven to half- 
past eight, A. M., and dine at from half-past one 
to three, P. M. Not more than three or four va¬ 
rieties of food should be eaten at one meal, and 
these should generally be preparations of some 
kind of grain, fruit, or vegetable. Fresh meat, 
such as beef, mutton, venison, etc., may be used 
occasionally in small quantities. Milk and cream 
may be sparingly used in cooking. Concentrated 
foods should not be used. They will not prop¬ 
erly sustain life. Unbolted wheat-meal or oat¬ 
meal bread, mush, and cracked wheat, corn-meal 
bread, mush, and gruel, boiled rice, pearl barley, 
potatoes, apples, baked, raw or stewed, are all 
staple articles, and may be used freely; while 
green corn, hulled corn, parched corn, green and 
ripe peas and beans, and many other fruits, grains, 
and vegetables, may be frequently used. 

There are, however, some forms of dyspepsia 
in which the unbolted wheat meal, corn meal, 
cracked wheat, and oaten grits, will prove very 
irritating, and cannot be used. This is the case 
in ulcerated conditions of the duodenum and rec¬ 
tum. Sometimes the liver, when in a diseased 
condition, excretes an acrid, corroding bile which 


THE BATII. 


193 


corrodes the duodenum, or upper portion of the 
small intestine, causing ulceration of its mucous 
membrane. Then, again, the rectum sometimes 
becomes ulcerated, the ulcers being caused by 
piles. In either of these cases, unbolted wheat 
meal, cracked wheat, and other coarse articles of 
diet, will be very apt to irritate the ulcerated sur¬ 
face and thereby increase the pain and also the 
purulent discharges. 

Local quiet is very essential to the healing of 
the ulcerated surface of the intestines, there¬ 
fore the diet, in these cases, should consist of 
a very small amount of farinaceous food with 
mealy potatoes, baked apples, grapes, and most 
kinds of subacid fruits. Arrowroot, tapioca, etc., 
may be used. Those who are dyspeptic should 
be careful to avoid all those articles of food which 
they have found to be injurious to them. They 
must not overeat, and should not usually eat 
both fruits and vegetables at the same meal. If 
their cases are very bad, they should use mostly 
dry food, such as dry toast, graham crackers, and 
parched corn, all of which should be thoroughly 
masticated before being swallowed. 

Patients who are recovering from a severe 
acute disease usually have voracious appetites. 
Such persons will have to be extremely careful 
not to overeat, and not to indulge their appetites 
by using hurtful substances. Thousands sacrifice 
their lives yearly by not properly restraining 


194 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


tlieir appetites while they are weak and unable 
to use much food. 

Persons who have been accustomed to the so- 
called good things of this life will, without doubt, 
find it to be quite a trial to restrict themselves to 
a strictly hygienic diet; yet if they can become 
accustomed to such a diet, they will be amply 
rewarded in the end by improved health and 
strength. It is true, however, that many who 
have abjured drugs, and who have discontinued 
the use of flesh-meat, tea, coffee, etc., find them¬ 
selves weaker than before making this change in 
their diet. I have known several such persons, 
and they have brought their experience forward 
as proof of the unsoundness of the vegetarian 
theory. But in every case, when inquiry was 
made, it was found that mistakes had been made. 
In some cases, they had suddenly discontinued 
the use of articles that were stimulating, and re¬ 
stricted themselves to a meager diet; in other 
cases, they did not cook the food so as to make 
it relish; in still other cases, they substituted 
large quantities of sugar and cream or butter in 
place of the meat they formerly used. Such 
practice is all wrong. Break off from the use of 
meat gradually, and supply its place with good 
hygienic food, well cooked, and in good variety. 
Never overwork when making these changes, 
but graduate the work to the strength. Be sure 
to secure good unleavened bread. 


THE BATII. 


195 


GENERAL RULES FOR NURSING THE SICK. 

1. Begin in season. Do not let a sick person 
work, or go uncared for until lie is compelled to 
take to liis bed, before beginning to care for him. 

2. As soon as a person begins to feel unwell, 
ascertain, if possible, wliat the cause is and re¬ 
move it. This may be all that is required. 

3. In most cases of acute disease, at the very 
first appearance of the disease, a tepid or warm 
bath will be beneficial by unclogging the skin 
and causing a slight determination of blood to 
the surface, thereby relieving any congestion of 
the internal organs. A tepid enema will usu¬ 
ally afford relief by removing obstructions 
from the bowels ; and a warm water emetic will 
relieve the stomach of any unusable matters it 
may contain, thereby removing nausea. Fasting 
for one or two meals will do more to promote 
depuration than anything taken internally can 
do; and the rest and quiet thus obtained will 
often be all that the patient needs. 

4. Preternatural heat can be reduced by ap¬ 
plying either cold, cool, or tepid water, or wet 
cloths; and warmth can be induced by hot cloths, 
hot bricks, or by bottles or jugs of hot water, etc. 

5. Always enjoin perfect quiet in the sick 
chamber, and let the patient sleep all he will. 

G. Never allow any but the nurse to see or 
converse with patients who are very low. Many 
have been sacrificed by not observing this rule. 


196 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


7. Never urge a fever patient to eat. 

8. Keep the sick room well ventilated, day 
and night, but do not allow a current- of air to 
strike the patient. 

9. Never whisper within the hearing of the 
sick, for if you do, they will be very apt to think 
that you are talking about them, and will become 
anxious. 

10. Never indulge in sad or melancholy conver¬ 
sation with, or in the presence of, the sick. All 
ways appear cheerful yourself, and endeavor to 
keep them cheerful. 

11. Never allow any fecal or urinary mattei, 
nor any other foul substance, to remain in the 
room with the sick for a moment. 

12. Change or air the patient’s clothes and bed¬ 
ding, daily. 

18. Always keep the bowels free, the feet 
warm, the head cool, and the entire surface of the 
body as near the temperature of healthy persons 
as possible. 

14. As soon as they are able to walk about, pa¬ 
tients should be encouraged to take exercise in 
the open air. 

15. Always see that the patient’s limbs are clad 
as warmly as the body, that the shoes are loose, 
that the garments are loose about the waist, and 
that corsets, stays, chignons, and all other in¬ 
jurious fashionable appendages are laid aside. 

16. Never give very cold nor prolonged treat¬ 
ment to very weak or nervous patients. 


PART IY. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


GENERAL PROPOSITIONS. 

Many well-meaning persons think that water 
treatment can be administered just as successful¬ 
ly without a knowledge of the human system, 
and without a knowledge of why and how water 
is a remedial agent, as with it. This, however, 
is a very great mistake, as many a patient has 
found to his sorrow. There is no system of med¬ 
icine that is worthy of, or that demands, more 
careful study than does the hygienic system. In 
fact, a knowledge of hygiene is, or should be, the 
basis of all medical knowledge. 

There are three things to be considered by 
those who would be successful in the management 
of the sick. 

First, the nature of disease must be under¬ 
stood. This subject has been fully explained in 
Part II., to which the reader is referred. There¬ 
fore, without repeating the arguments and evi¬ 
dences there introduced, it will be sufficient to 
state that disease is remedial effort, is vital action, 

Fam. riiys. U 0«T) 



198 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


is an effort on the part of nature, i. e., the organ¬ 
ism, to expel impurities, or poisons and unusable 
substances, from the system, and to overcome ob¬ 
structions to the circulation ; consequently, in all 
cases in which change of organic structure has 
not taken place, disease is self-limited in its nat¬ 
ure. Therefore, in treating the sick, we should 
seek to assist nature in her efforts instead of seek¬ 
ing, as do many physicians, to stop her efforts by 
breaking up the disease. Since disease is vital 
action, it follows that if we break up or “ cure ” 
disease, we stop vital action. This should be 
avoided if possible, for the cessation of vital ac¬ 
tion is death. 

One of the chief reasons why so few of the sick 
recover is, the physicians give them medicines to 
“ cure ” their diseases, and this is effectually accom¬ 
plished by the patient’s expending his vitality in 
expelling the medicine, until there is not suffi¬ 
cient life force left to carry on the usual life proc¬ 
esses, and the patient dies, having been literally 
“ cured ” to death. 

Instead of endeavoring to stop vital action, we 
should seek to control and direct it. If one part 
of the system is inactive, we should strive to in¬ 
duce in it its normal or usual action; but we 
should never try to check vital action, except in 
those cases where the action is so violent as to 
cause a liability of the destruction of some of the 
organs, or a disorganization of some of the tissues. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


199 


In all the systems of medicine in which drug 
poisons are administered, the physician seeks to 
“ cure ” or stop the diseased action already exist¬ 
ing (which is simply an effort to expel impurities 
already in the system) by giving a drug to induce 
another diseased action (which is an effort to ex¬ 
pel the drug), which he has learned is self-limited 
(it ceases as soon as the drug is expelled). In¬ 
stead of doing this, we should ever seek to induce 
in every part of the organism just those actions 
which take place when the person is in health. 
That we cannot do this by administering drugs 

that make a well person sick is self-evident. 

* 

The only way in which it is possible to induce 
healthy action in a diseased organism is by sup¬ 
plying those conditions on which health is based, 
and by the employment of those agents which 
are conducive to the maintenance of health. See 
Part I. 

Secondly, the condition of the patient must 
be understood, otherwise it will be impossible to 
tell what it is necessary to do to restore him to 
health. It is not enough to know that something 
is wrong, we must know what is wrong if we 
would remedy the evil; and to know this, it is 
necessary that we have a knowledge of the loca¬ 
tion of the various organs of the body, and of the 
action of each when in health, otherwise we can¬ 
not tell with any certainty what organ of the 
body is diseased; consequently, not knowing the 



200 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHY r SICIAN. 


condition of the patient, whatever we do will be 
done blindly, and will be just as liable to be 
wrong as right—to do harm as good. 

It is a lack of knowledge as to the location and 
functions of the various organs of the body that 
constitutes the great barrier to a correct diagnosis 
of disease, and to its proper management by 
people generally. If the reader is not acquainted 
with these subjects, he should at once obtain 
some work on physiology and acquaint himself 
with at least these two branches of the subject. 
Space will not allow the introduction of much 
physiology in this work; yet it is essential that 
enough be presented to give the reader a correct 
idea of the location and action of the vital organs, 
as it is by a comparison of the symptoms mani¬ 
fested in disease with the known action of the or¬ 
gans in health that we are enabled to ascertain the 
condition of the patient. 

Thirdly, the causes of disease must be under¬ 
stood, and such as exist externally or are in the 
alimentary canal must be removed ; for it is evi¬ 
dent that all treatment administered while the 
cause of the disease is still operating, unless it be 
for the removing of that cause, is useless. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


201 


IMPORTANT INTERNAL ORGANS. 

THEIR LOCATION AND FUNCTIONS. 

The human body is naturally divided into four 
cavities, which contain the most important organs 
of the body. 

The first of these cavities is called the cranial 
cavity because it is within the cranium, or skull. 
It contains the brain and its membranes, the up¬ 
per portion of the spinal cord, which is called 
the medulla oblongata, certain ganglia or little 
brains, and the commencement of nine pairs of 
nerves. The brain is in two parts, a greater and 
lesser brain. The greater brain is called the cer¬ 
ebrum, and is situated in the front and upper 
portion of the skull, nearly filling it. The small¬ 
er brain is called the cerebellum, and is situated 
in the lower and back portion of the cranial cav- 
ity. 

It is the function of the brain to think and 
feel, to recognize the existence and relation of 
things, and to direct the organs of voluntary mo¬ 
tion, using the nerves which originate in the brain 
and spinal cord as its means of communication 
with those organs. 

The nerves of hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, 
and feeling, all originate in the brain. The spi¬ 
nal cord originates within the cranial cavity, and 
is continued downward through the spinal col¬ 
umn, sending off nerves between the joints of the 


202 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


various vertebral bones. The brain and spinal 
cord are both surrounded with membranes which 
may be diseased as well as the substance of the 
brain and cord. The nerves, arteries, and veins, 
may be diseased also. The brain and cord and 
their membranes are liable to inflammation, con¬ 
gestion, the exudation of water or blood, or the 
formation of pus, to ulcers, tumors, abscesses, and 
cancers. The nerves of sense and the mucous 

membrane in which each terminates may be cl is- 

«/ 

eased. 

Just above the outer angle of the eye and 
lodged within a depression of the bone that forms 
the roof of the orbit is situated the lachrymal 
gland, whose function is to secrete a watery fluid 
—the tears. There is at the inner corner of each 
eye a little canal, called the lachrymal canal, 
which communicates with the nasal duct. The 
nasal duct is within the bones of the face and 
nose, and terminates in the lower portion of the 
nasal cavity. These canals and ducts convey the 
water from the eyes to the nose. When these 
ducts become stopped, the tears flow slowly, but 
constantly. 

Passing from the cranial cavity to the mouth, 
we find the tongue, palate, tonsils, fauces, teeth, 
salivary glands, all of which are liable to disease. 
The fauces are the extreme upper portion of the 
throat. 

The tonsils are two glands situated on either 


DISEASES AND THElll TREATMENT. 


203 


side of the upper portion of the fauces. The ton¬ 
sils secrete a fluid to moisten the throat. There 
are six of the salivary glands, whose function it 
is to secrete saliva. The two largest are situated 
on each side of the head just in front and a little 
below the ear. These are called the parotid 
glands. The two next in size are called the sub¬ 
maxillary glands, and are situated on either 
side just below and a little in front of the angle 
of the lower jaw. 

The two smallest, called the sublingual glands, 
are under the tongue, in contact with the lower 
jaw and near its center. Each of these glands is 
provided with a duct through which it sends its 
secretion, the saliva, to the mouth. The salivary 
glands may be inflamed, as in mumps, the tongue 
may be inflamed, as in mercurial salivation, the 
tonsils and fauces, as in quinsy. The principal 
organs of the throat are the pharynx, the oesoph¬ 
agus, the larynx, trachea, thyroid gland, several 
lymphatic glands, and blood-vessels. 

The pharynx consist of about four and one- 
half inches of the alimentary canal, commencing 
immediately back of the mouth. The oesophagus 
is also a portion of the alimentary canal, and is 
about nine inches in length, and connects the 
pharynx with the stomach. This organ lies 
mostly within the thorax. The larynx is situ¬ 
ated between the base of the tongue and the 
trachea or windpipe. By placing the thumb and 


204 HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

linger on the throat, and at the same time swal¬ 
lowing, there will he felt a hard, cartilaginous 
tube, which rises as the action of swallowing is 
performed. This tube is the larynx, and contains 
the vocal cords, hence it is the organ of voice. 

The trachea is the windpipe. It is a cartilag¬ 
inous tube, about four and one-half inches in 
length and from three-quarters of an inch to an 
inch in diameter. It extends from the larynx to 
the lungs, where it divides into two branches, 
called the bronchial tubes. The thyroid gland 
is situated at the upper portion of the trachea. 
It consists of two lobes placed one each side of 
this tube. These lobes are connected by a narrow, 
transverse portion. The function of this gland is 
unknown. 

There is quite a number of the lymphatic glands 
in the neck. They are principally situated a lit¬ 
tle beneath the skin, underneath the margin of 
the lower jaw, and in front of, under, and behind, 
the ears, also a few at the sides of the neck, just 
below the collar bone. These glands become in¬ 
flamed, and abscesses or ulcers are often formed if 
the person is scrofulous. The thyroid gland is 
liable to enlargement, as in goiter. The trachea, 
larynx, and pharynx, are liable to inflammation, 
as in croup, laryngitis, clergyman’s sore throat, 
putrid sore throat, scarlatina, diptheria, etc. 

The second cavity of the body is inclosed by 
the ribs, and separated from the abdomen by 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


205 


a large, thin, Hat muscle, called the diaphragm. 
This cavity is called the thorax, which signifies a 
coat of mail, which the chest resembles. 

The principal organs within the thorax are the 
heart, lungs, and large blood-vessels. It contains 
also the pericardium, which is a membrane sur¬ 
rounding the heart, and containing fluid to lubri- 
cate it; also the pleura, a membrane that covers 
the lungs and lines the entire thorax, and also 
passes between the lungs and attaches to the 
breast-bone in front, and to the spine, and divides 
the thorax into two cavities, thereby preventing 
both lungs from becoming useless, as would other- 
wise result in case an opening was made into one 
side of the thorax. The function of the pleura is 
to secrete a lubricating fluid to moisten and lubri- 
cate the organs within the thorax. 

The bronchial tubes are the continuation of the 
trachea after it divides into two branches within 
the thorax. These again subdivide as they pass 
into the lungs, and continue to subdivide until 
by their minute subdivisions and ramifications 
they form the air-cells of the lungs. 

The heart is liable to a change of structure or 
texture as is seen in organic disease of the heart. 
It is also liable to functional derangement, as is 
seen in palpitation and irregularity of pulse. It 
is also liable to inflammation and to rupture. The 
pericardium is liable to inflammation, and to ad¬ 
hesion to the heart, and to dropsical effusion, as 
in dropsy of the heart. 


206 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


The pleura is liable to inflammation, as in pleu¬ 
risy, or it may throw out water into the thoracic 
cavity, as in dropsy of the chest. The substance 
of the lungs may be inflamed, as in pneumonia, 
or lung fever, or tubercles and abscesses may form 
in them as in tubercular consumption. 

The mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes 
and air-cells may be inflamed, as in bronchitis, 
catarrhal consumption, and lingering consump¬ 
tion. The large arteries are liable to become 
weakened in places and give rise to blood tumors 
called aneurisms. 

The third cavity is the abdomen. This con¬ 
tains the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, 
small intestines, the most of the large intestine, 
the omentum, mesentery, and peritoneum. The 
stomach is the principal organ of digestion. It 
lies immediately behind the front wall of the ab¬ 
domen under the lower ribs, and a little to the left. 
When moderately full, it is usually about twelve 
inches in length and four inches in diameter. 
The stomach is liable to inflammation or great 

O 

irritation when anything improper enters it or 
when food ferments within it, and to become dis¬ 
tended with gas, as in flatulency. Its secreting 
vessels—the gastric follicles—may also become so 
diseased by overfeeding or improper feeding as 
to fail in the work of secreting gastric juice, and 
indigestion or dyspepsia is the result. 

The small intestines arc that part of the aliment- 


DISEASES AND TllEIR TREATMENT. 


207 


ary canal where the most of the nutritive portion 
of the food is separated from the innutritive por¬ 
tion and absorbed preparatory to entering the cir¬ 
culation. They are about twenty feet in length. 

The first nine inches of the small intestine con¬ 
stitute the duodenum. It receives the food from 
the stomach, and the pancreatic juice, and the 
bile. After leaving the stomach, the food under¬ 
goes further digestion in the duodenum. The 
duodenum is liable to inflammation, caused by 
errors in diet, such as overeating or eating im¬ 
proper articles, or from acrid bile. 

The next eight or nine feet of the small intes¬ 
tines form the jejunum, from jejunus—emp¬ 
ty—because usually found empty after death. 

The remainder of the small intestines is called 
the ileum—to twist—because of its numerous con¬ 
volutions. The small intestines lie in the central 
part of the abdomen. They are liable to inflam¬ 
mation, colic, and spasmodic contractions. 

The large intestine is about five feet in length. 
It commences on the right side at the lowest 
part of the abdominal cavity and passes upward to 
the liver, where it makes a short turn to the left, 
and passes transversely across the abdomen, pass¬ 
ing thence downward along the left side of the 
abdomen into the pelvis, where it makes a fold 
upon itself somewhat like the letter Z or S. This 
fold is called the sigmoid flexure. After making 
this fold, it passes through the pelvis along the 


208 HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

posterior wall and terminates at the anus. The 
last portion is called the rectum. The large in¬ 
testine is liable to acute inflammation, as in dys¬ 
entery, cholera, etc., and to chronic inflammation, 
as in diarrhea, also to hemorrhoidal tumors or piles 
and ulcers in the lower portion. The intestines, 
if foul, may contain worms, or they may become 
torpid, and contain large quantities of hardened 
feces, or they may be distended with gas or 
wind. 

The liver lies under the last six ribs on the 
right side and extends across the central line of the 
abdomen partially under the ribs on the left side. 
Its function is to excrete the bile elements from 
the blood. These are transmitted through the 

O 

bile ducts to the gall bladder and duodenum. 
The liver is liable to acute and chronic inflam¬ 
mation, to abscesses, congestion, and to a change 
of structure. Gall stones may form in the bile 
ducts and gall bladder. 

The pancreas is a gland about six or eight 
inches in length, one and a half inches broad, and 
three-fourths of an inch thick. It lies behind 
the stomach. Its function is to secrete a digest- 
ive fluid called the pancreatic juice. This organ 
is liable to inflammation and tumors. 

The kidneys are situated at the back part of 
the abdominal cavity on either side of the spinal 
column. The upper portion of the kidneys ex¬ 
tends as high as the union of the last rib but 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


200 


one — the eleventh — with the spinal column. 

The kidneys may become inflamed, or gravel 
may form in them if hard water is used inter¬ 
nally. 

The peritoneum is the lining membrane of the 
abdominal cavity. It also covers each organ 
within the abdomen separately, and binds them 
all down to the posterior wall of the abdomen, or 
to the diaphragm above. That portion of the 
peritoneum which collects the intestines into a 
convoluted mass is called the mesentery. There 
is a large double fold of the peritoneum that 
that passes down like an apron in front of the 
intestines. This is called the omentum. 

Within the mesentery there are certain glands 
called the mesenteric glands, whose function it 
is to assist in transforming the food into blood, 
the food being conveyed to them by the lacteal 
vessels, by which it is absorbed. 

The peritoneum secretes a watery fluid to 
moisten the organs it enshrouds, and to keep 
them lubricated. When this membrane is in¬ 
flamed, dropsy of the abdomen is liable to follow. 
When the mesentery or its glands are inflamed, 
the work of nutrition is imperfect. Tumors may 
form in the mesentery. Puerperal or childbed 
fever is a fever resulting from inflammation of 
the peritoneum. 

The fourth cavity is called the pelvis. It is 
formed by the pelvic bones, and contains the blad- 


210 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


derand rectum in males, and, in addition to these, 
the uterus fallopian tubes and ovaries in females. 
These organs are liable to inflammation and dis¬ 
placements, which will be treated of hereafter. 

CAUSES OF DISEASE. 

There are two ways in which disease may be 
occasioned:—- 

First, by the introduction of improper sub¬ 
stances, commonly known as poisons. 

Secondly, by the misrelation or improper use 
of good things, or hygienic agents. 

Of the poisons that may enter the system from 
without and thus become a cause of disease, the 
following are among those best known :— 

Of inorganic poisons, alkalies, acids, salts, ox¬ 
ides, earths, metals, alcohol, and all other distilled 
and fermented liquors, poisonous gases, and ma¬ 
larious exhalations. The organic poisons may be 
of either vegetable or animal origin. Of the 
vegetable poisons, some of the most common are 
opium, tobacco, aconite, ipecac, colchicum, qui¬ 
nine, etc. 

Of the animal poisons, we may mention the 
venoms, viruses, infections, cantharides— Spanish 
flies—castor, musk, etc. All the drugs and medi¬ 
cines of the entire materia medica of all the sys¬ 
tems of medicine belong to one or the other of 
these classes of poisons. Whenever a person is 
called to treat the sick, he should, if possible, as- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


211 


certain whether the disease was caused by the 
reception of some poison from without, and 
whether that poison is still entering the system; 
for it is evident that the most successful way to 
stop an effort of the system to cast out a poison 
w T ould be to prevent any more of that poison 
from entering the system; then, when what had 
already entered was cast out, the action, or dis¬ 
ease, would cease. This shows how it is that 
diseases are naturally self-limited. 

The improper use, or misrelation, or abuse, of 
hygienic agents, may become a cause of disease 
by so changing the conditions of the individual 
that the impurities, or wastes of the body, or 
broken-down tissues, are retained in the system 
until it is clogged therewith, and a diseased 
action is set up for the purpose of expelling 
them. 

A disease of this kind may be caused by in¬ 
sufficiency of air, by defective light, by living in 
constant shade, by extremes of temperature, by 
the inordinate use or misapplication of water, by 
food taken in improper quantities and at im¬ 
proper times, by too little or too much clothing, 
or clothing improperly adjusted, or by overexer¬ 
cise, indolence, sleeplessness, depressing mental 
influences, mental shocks, morbid religious senti¬ 
ments, perverted moral influences, and mechan¬ 
ical injuries. If the misrelation of any of these 
otherwise hygienic agents is the cause of a dis- 


212 


HYGIENIC FAMILY FHYSICIAN. 


ease, it is evident that, before the patient can re¬ 
cover, that cause must be removed by properly 
relating all hygienic agents to the system. 

THE DIAGNOSIS OP DISEASE. 

To write out a set of rules by which every 
man and woman can determine at sight the 
nature of every disease to which flesh is heir, is 
a task that has never yet been accomplished. It 
is not to be expected that such a set of rules can 
be given, yet there are a few general principles 
that may be stated in such a manner that per¬ 
sons of average intelligence can read many of 
the diseases with which human beings are af¬ 
flicted, in a manner to know just what ails the 
patient. 

It is by the aggregate and succession of symp¬ 
toms that a disease is detected, a symptom being 
any perceptible change that takes place in any 
organ or function. 

It is the plan of this work, not only to give 
directions for treating disease, but also to give a 
description of the symptoms manifested in the 
various diseases and by which the location and 
nature of each may be known. This will be 
done by treating of each disease separately; yet, 
since there are certain general rules for determin¬ 
ing disease, it may be well to give these first. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


213 


GENERAL RULES FOR DETERMINING DISEASE. 

1. When the body is in health, there is a con¬ 
stant occurrence of certain well-known vital 
manifestations which are called the lanmia^e of 

o o 

health. 

2. AVhen the body is diseased, some or all of 
the vital functions are disturbed; consequently, 
the vital manifestations are disturbed, i. e., they 
differ from those which occur in health. These 
disturbed vital manifestations are the language 
of disease, and are called symptoms. 

3. It is by noticing that the vital manifesta¬ 
tions differ from those that occur in health that 
we discover that the body or any portion there¬ 
of is diseased. 

LANGUAGE OF HEALTH. 

When the entire body is in health, there is a 
uniform temperature of all its parts. There is 
neither chilliness nor sensation of heat, but an 
unvarying temperature at about 98°. The skin 
is soft, velvety, and clear. The appetite is not 
capricious, but relishes plain, wholesome food 
without requiring that it should be seasoned 
with condiments. With the regularity of clock¬ 
work, it demands a moderate supply of food. 
The stomach digests the food so easily and so 
perfectly that after the food is once swallowed, 

ram. rhys. 1 O 


214 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


the individual never thinks or knows anything 
more concerning it. 

The bowels move with regularity and are nei¬ 
ther too tight nor too loose. There is no rum¬ 
bling to be heard in them nor motion felt, except 
in the act of defecation. The kidneys excrete the 
urine, which is retained in the bladder without 
the individual becoming conscious of it until by 
distention it presses on other organs or stretches 
its nerves, when cognizance is taken of its condi¬ 
tion, and its contents are readily voided by pain¬ 
less micturition. 

The circulation is regular, the blood being car- 
ried in an even and steady current to all parts of 
the body. The breathing is full and free and 
noiseless, the breath is sweet, and the mouth 
moist and clean. The vital organs all perform 
their functions in such an easy and perfect man¬ 
ner that the individual would never know by 
the sense of feeling that he had vital organs. 
The body is so perfectly maintained that from 
infancy to adult life it does not cease to grow, 
and after attaining to adult life it neither in¬ 
creases nor diminishes much in size or weight 
until it reaches old age. The sleep is undis¬ 
turbed and refreshing. The senses are all acute, 
the mind is clear, tranquil, hopeful, and cheerful. 
The voluntary organs all act promptly to the 
dictation of the will, all the bodily sensations 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


215 


are pleasurable, ancl there is a love for exercise. 
Such is the language of health. 

LANGUAGE OF DISEASE. 

When the body is diseased, there will be a dis¬ 
turbance of some or all of the vital manifesta¬ 
tions, and to determine the nature and severity 
of the disease, we must carefully watch the vital 
manifestations, and note wherein they differ from 
those which take place in health. 

The following manifestations are the language 
of disease, and some of them always occur when 
the body is diseased. The temperature of the 
body may be disturbed by being too high or too 
low, occasioning chilly sensations, or burning 
fever. The skin may be dry and husky, and 
may even crack or scale, or it may lack clearness, 
being clogged with impurities. The appetite 
may be craving, or there may be loss of appetite. 
It may be capricious, and relish only highly-sea¬ 
soned food, or it may call for stimulating food 
and drink. The stomach may act in a disturbed 
manner; there may be either cramping, heart¬ 
burn, nausea, vomiting, eructations, heat, or pain. 

The bowels may be irregular, being either con¬ 
stipated or loose, with either bilious, watery, 
bloody, or slimy discharges, or wind may accu¬ 
mulate in them. 

The kidneys may excrete a thick, stringy sub¬ 
stance with the urine, or they may fail to excrete 


21G 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


a proper amount of urine, or they may excrete 
too great a supply. The bladder may refuse to 
retain but a small amount of urine, which may 
be voided with great difficulty and pain, the 
urine being hot; or there may be failure to re¬ 
tain the urine, or there may be an undue reten¬ 
tion of it, causing great pain. 

The circulation may be disturbed, as indicated 
by the pulse, which may be too high or too low, 
too fast or too slow, too strong or too weak ; it 
may be full, or wiry, or too frequent, or irregular. 
The breathing may be oppressed, or the breath 
may be short, or it may have an offensive smell. 
There may be mucous or slimy discharges from 
the throat or lungs; the mouth may taste bad, 
or may be dry, or the tongue may be coated. 
There may be wasting of the body, or an abnor¬ 
mal filling up with fat. Some of the senses 
may be faulty, or the mind may manifest unusual 
activity, or stupidity, or insanity, or despondency. 
There may be involuntary contractions of the 
muscles, amounting to cramp, spasms, or even 
convulsions. The bodily sensations may be un¬ 
pleasant, and even painful. The sleep may be 
disturbed and unrefreshing, the individual being- 
restless or nervous. There may be a feeling of 
listlessness, and an antipathy against taking exer¬ 
cise. Such manifestations as the foregoino* indi- 
cate that disease exists, hence they are the lan¬ 
guage of disease. 


DISEASES AND THE I It TREATMENT. 


217 


HOW TO LOCATE A DISEASE. 

As has been previously shown, disease is ab¬ 
normal vital action—an unusual or disturbed 
action of some or all of the organs—therefore, to 
determine the location of a disease, all we have 
to do is to apply the general rules before-men¬ 
tioned to the various organs, and ascertain what 
organ or organs are acting abnormally, then w r e 
can tell where the disease is located; for the ab¬ 
normal action is the disease. We must not close 
our investigation, however, as soon as we find 
that a certain organ is diseased; we must con¬ 
tinue the investigation until wrn have compared 
the present vital manifestations of each organ 
with those that are known to proceed from that 
organ when it is in health ; then, taking the ag¬ 
gregate of all these abnormal or unusual actions, 

O O J 

A\ r e can tell just what organs are diseased. 

THE NAMES OF DISEASE. 

Any deviation from the healthy standard, 
either of vital action or of organic structure, is 
disease. Now, as the number of these deviations 
(in other words, the whole number of diseases), 
if we include all their differences in kind and 
degree, is scarcely calculable, it follows that any 
attempt to enumerate, name, and describe, each 
separately would be an endless task, for it is sel¬ 
dom that any two individuals ever manifest ex- 


218 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


actly the same symptoms, or are diseased just 
alike; therefore, we shall group them together 
and present them in some order. Many persons 
have read in their water-cure manuals a descrip¬ 
tion of a disease and its treatment, yet when 
they come to the bedside they perhaps find that 
the symptoms manifested by the patient vary 
somewhat from those laid down in the book, and 
they are at a loss to know with what disease the 
patient is suffering. They think that if they 
only knew the name of the disease they would 
know what to do, but they do not know how to 
find out with what disease the patient is troubled. 

It is to be hoped that whoever reads these 
pages will not be satisfied with learning the names 
of various diseases, but that they will endeavor 
to learn the conditions of body that are signified 
by these names, and then, by reflecting upon 
the deviation of these conditions from those 
which occur in health, try to understand what 
condition should be supplied, or what hygienic 
agent applied, or what bad habit corrected—in 
other words, what principles of treatment should 
be adopted to restore the patient to health. If 
we understand the exact conditions of the various 
organs of the body when in disease, it does not 
matter whether we know the name of the dis¬ 
ease or not, nor whether the disease has a name, 
for the name of a disease is only intended to ex¬ 
press certain conditions or actions. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


219 


CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES. 

Probably the most convenient classification of 
diseases for the general reader will be as fol¬ 
lows :— 

General Diseases, and 
Local Diseases ; 

Acute Diseases, and 
Chronic Diseases. 

A general disease is one which is not confined 
to any special locality of the body, but is one in 
which more or less of the entire system is in¬ 
volved. 

A local disease is one which is confined to some 
special organ or system of organs. 

An acute disease is one which, with a certain 
degree of severity, has a rapid progress and short 
duration. 

A chronic disease is one whose progress is slow 
and whose duration is long. 

Diseases which are intermediate between acute 
and chronic are sometimes called subacute. 


GENERAL DISEASES. 

There are many diseases that affect the general 
system, but as this work is intended simply as a 
hand-book for home practice, and not as a com¬ 
plete text-book for the medical practitioner, there- 



220 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


fore those diseases only will be introduced that 
can be treated at home with some degree of suc¬ 
cess. 

MORBID CONDITIONS OP THE BLOOD. 

The blood is the vital fluid from which all the 
tissues are built, and it is evident that, for the tis¬ 
sues to be properly maintained, the blood must 
be of the proper quality and proper quantity. 
This is not always the case however, for it fre¬ 
quently happens that there are individuals who 
have too much blood, others who have too little 
or whose blood is thin and watery, while others 
are subject to excessive hemorrhages, and still 
others who have other abnormal conditions of 
blood; but as such of the last as can be success¬ 
fully treated at home will be mentioned in con¬ 
nection with other diseases, they will not be no¬ 
ticed here. The first morbid state of the blood 
that we will notice is that known as 

ANEMIA. 

This term signifies poverty of the blood, or a 
condition in which the blood is thin and watery. 
If the blood of an anaemic patient be examined, 
it will be found deficient in red blood corpuscles. 
Instead of these existing in the proportion of 130 
per 1000 parts as in health, they are reduced to 
80 or even 60, and in severe cases even to 30. 
The red blood corpuscles are the ones that convey 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


221 


oxygen from the lungs to the various tissues, and 
convey the carbonic acid from the tissues to the 
lungs for expulsion. Hence, it is highly impor¬ 
tant that there should be a normal supply of these. 
This disease is not confined to age or sex. It is 
met with where the digestive functions are im¬ 
perfectly performed and in connection with many 
other serious chronic diseases. 

Symptoms. —There is a pale and waxy or sal¬ 
low hue of the countenance, and of the skin gen¬ 
erally ; the lips, also the tongue and the inside of 
the mouth, are nearly colorless. The pulse is fre¬ 
quent, small, and quick, sometimes very quick. 
There is much pain in the top of the head and 
frequently in the front portions. Mental depres¬ 
sion is generally a prominent symptom. Moder¬ 
ate mental excitement or bodily exertion is at¬ 
tended by a sense of sinking, or faintness. There 
is palpitation, with hurried breathing. Moderate 
exercise will increase the frequency of the pulse 
in some cases to double the beats per minute. 
The patient feels a lack of breath ; this is because 
there are so few red blood corpuscles to absorb 
the oxygen and convey it to the tissues. Anaemia 
is also frequently attended with severe hemor¬ 
rhage. When anaemia is of long continuance, a 
general wasting of the tissues sets in, also dropsy, 
difficult breathing, diarrhea, and profuse sweat¬ 
ing and then death soon follows, either by grad- 

O 5 


222 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ual exhaustion, or more suddenly by syncope, 
convulsion, or coma. 

Cause.— In most cases, this impoverished con¬ 
dition of the blood is brought about by improper 
habits of life, such as improper food, breathing 
impure air in close, unventilated rooms, want of 
sunlight, insufficient clothing or clothing improp¬ 
erly adjusted, the wearing of tight garments about 
the waist, and by lack of exercise. Excessive 
hemorrhage is also a frequent cause of this dis¬ 
ease. It is also occasioned by taking drugs, such 
as antimony, mercury, or active purgatives. 

Treatment.— The first thing to be done is to 
ascertain, if possible, the cause, and remove it, 
then attend well to the diet. The fool should be 
nutritious and should be composed of fruits, 
grains, and vegetables. See Diet for the Sick. 

The clothing should be so adjusted that the 
limbs will be as warmly clad as any part of the 
body. Every garment should be suspended from 
the shoulders and should be loose about the waist. 
Exercise in the open air should be taken each 
day, always stopping short of fatigue. Walking 
is the best exercise. An effort should be made 
to increase the amount of exercise day by day 
until the patient is able to walk five or six miles 
each day without fatigue. In addition to the 
foregoing, the patient should take a tonic bath 
twice or three times a week. The dripping-sheet 
at 85° or 95° is as good as any, or, if convenient, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 223 

the spray at 95°, or the pail-douche at 85° or 95°. 
These baths will tone up and strengthen the sys¬ 
tem. If the patient has cold feet, they should be 
bathed with cold water for two minutes at a time, 
then wiped thoroughly dry, and rubbed with 
the dry hand until perfectly warmed. A dry- 
hand-rub every morning on or before rising will 
be found very beneficial. This is a chronic dis¬ 
ease, and it will require both time and persever¬ 
ance to work a cure. 

CHLOROSIS. 

This term is applied to a disease that is some¬ 
times called green sickness, a disease which fre¬ 
quently affects young women about the age of 
puberty, or soon after. There seems to be much 
confusion concerning the nature of this disease, 
many attributing it to disordered menstrual and 
sexual functions, as in most chlorotic women the 
menses have never occurred, or, if they have oc¬ 
curred, they have either been suppressed, or they 
are scanty, irregular, and pale. There can be no 
doubt that suppression is the result of chlorosis 
and not the cause of it. 

In chlorosis, the blood is impoverished and is in 
the same condition as described in Anaemia, the 
two diseases being the same. The reason that 
the menses do not occur at the age of puberty 
in chlorotic women is, their blood is so depleted 
that they have not sufficient life to provide 


224 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


for their individual maintenance, and at the same 
time make provision for offspring, which is the 
object of menstruation. The reason why so many 
are affected with anoemia or chlorosis at about 
or soon after the age of puberty is, at that age 
they, in some instances, overtax the mind by ex¬ 
cessive study; in other cases, it is because the 
body is developing faster then than at any other 
age, and is more easily affected by overwork or 
excitement of any kind, and any sudden change 
affects the constitution seriously. 

Treatment.—T he same in all respects as for 
amemia. 

PLETHORA, HYPEREMIA. 

These terms signify a superabundance of blood. 
Some authors speak of local hypersemia as exist¬ 
ing whenever some one or more organs contain 
too much blood, other organs at the same time 
containing too little. The fullness in these cases 
is simple congestion, and will be noticed under 
that head. 

Symptoms. —When general plethora exists, 
there is an excess of blood in all parts. The face 
appears full or swollen, and has a purplish tinge. 

The eyes appear rather small, the pulse is large, 
somewhat hard, and resistent. The veins are swol¬ 
len, and in some cases the individual becomes 
quite fat; but this is not always the case, and 
besides this, many fleshy persons suffer from a 
deficiency rather than from an excess of blood. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


9 9 => 

J 

Plethora occasions lassitude and indolence ; a de¬ 
sire for sleep, which is often accompanied with 
snoring and dreaming; a liability to vertigo and 
headache, and sometimes hemorrhage, especially 
from the nose, and from piles or hemorrhoids if 
they exist. 

In plethora, the blood may be healthy and 
pure, but there is too much of it, and there is 
danger that some of the capillaries may be rupt¬ 
ured, which might result in serious consequences 
if the blood pass into the tissues of the brain or 
some other vital organ. 

Cause. —The most frequent cruise of plethora 
is too free living and too little exercise. A per¬ 
son with strong and large digestive organs is lia¬ 
ble to overeat. If such a person takes more 
nourishment than he requires, there will be more 
blood made than can be used. If he takes too 
little exercise, or is of sedentary habits, his tis¬ 
sues will not change as fast as they should, hence, 
from these two causes, there will be an excess of 
blood. 

Treatment. —The treatment of this disease is 
indicated by its cause. Active out-door exercise 
is of the utmost importance. Care should be 
taken at first not to heat the system. Begin by 
taking gentle exercise of any kind, and increase 
gradually, always carrying it as far as possible 
without fatigue ; for it is important that a change 
of tissue should take place, and this can be acceler- 


226 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ated by exercise. A spare diet is as essential as 
exercise. The food must be plain, and should be 
taken in as small quantities as the actual de¬ 
mands of nutrition will allow. A dripping-sheet 
at 75° or 85°, or a sponge-bath at 75°, followed 
by a dry-sheet rub, should be taken once a day 
for a few days, then skip a day and take the bath 
every alternate day thereafter for a few weeks, 
unless it be found, that they weaken the patient. 

HEMORRHAGE. 

The escape of blood from the vessels in which 
it is naturally contained constitutes hemorrhage. 
Hemorrhage may be caused by cutting, or other¬ 
wise wounding, the arteries and veins. Such 
bleeding, if the vessels cut are quite small, will 
stop either spontaneously, or by simply bind¬ 
ing the part. If an artery of some considera¬ 
ble size is cut (it may be known by the size 
of the stream and by the bright-red color of the 
blood), it should be tied. To prevent loss of blood 
while waiting the arrival of a surgeon, tie a 
handkerchief, or a strong 'bandage, about the 
wounded limb between the wound and the heart; 
tie sufficiently tight to stop the bleeding. If the 
wound is on the body, find the artery and make 
pressure at some point between the wound and 
the heart until it can be tied. If the blood flows 
in a steady stream, without jerking, and is of a 
dark-red color, it is simply venous blood, and the 


DISEASES AND TIIEIE TREATMENT. 


227 

hemorrhage can he stopped by binding on lint. 

Another form of hemorrhage is that occasioned 
by some constitutional difficulty. It may result 
from tubercle, or cancer, as these occasion decay 
of the tissues and coats of vessels; or it may be 
occasioned by excessive congestions, or inflamma¬ 
tions in which some of the smaller vessels are 
ruptured; or it may be cause by anaemia (poor 
blood), in which condition the tissues are all 
poorly maintained. This is especially the case 
with the coats of the capillary vessels, and they 
give way very easily. 

For these reasons, hemorrhage frequently oc¬ 
curs in persons with the above conditions. Hem¬ 
orrhage is not confined to any particular part of 
the body, but may occur from any organ or tis¬ 
sue. 

Cause.— The immediate causes of hemorrhage 
in most cases are heat, violent mental excitement 
or muscular exertion, the use of stimulants, ex¬ 
posure to various irritants, excess of blood, and 
poor blood. Sometimes there is a hereditary 
weakness of the coats of the vessels, in which 
case a very trifling cause will induce bleeding. 

Prognosis. —If the blood flows into the sub¬ 
stance of any of the- vital organs or into the cav¬ 
ity of any of the membranes that surround the 
vital organs, or if it occurs repeatedly in a person 
whose blood is thin, or whose blood-vessels are 
weak, there is very little probability of entirely 


228 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


overcoming the difficulty, even if death does not 
soon result. In other instances, death is very 
rarely the result. 

General Treatment.— We should seek to ex¬ 
cite contraction of the bleeding vessels and to 
balance the circulation by inducing a more copi¬ 
ous circulation in organs or parts of the body re¬ 
mote from the bleeding part. The application 
of ice or cold water to the bleeding parts, or as 
near them as possible, will contract the vessels, 
and the application of warmth to parts remote 
therefrom will promote an increase of blood in 
those parts. A free current of air applied to the 
bleeding vessel will often cause the blood to co- 
agulate in the part. As soon as the coagulum is 
formed in the vessel, the bleeding will cease. In 
endeavoring to control any form of hemorrhage, 
the patient should be kept as quiet as possible. 
His room should be kept cool and well aired. 
He should rest on a mattress without much cov¬ 
ering, and subsist on simple, yet nourishing, food, 
and should drink freely of cold water or ice wa¬ 
ter, while the position of the body should be such 
that the flow of blood toward the bleeding part 
will be impeded. The after treatment should be 
such as will build up the constitution. Copious 
hot enemas are very useful in stopping hemor¬ 
rhage from any organ. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 229 

BLEEDING AT THE NOSE—EPISTAXIS. 

This should not cause alarm unless the patient 
is known to have thin, watery blood (see under 
head of Anaemia), or unless it occurs in advanced 
life, or comes on during the progress of some dis¬ 
ease. But if it comes on in advanced life, it 
should cause alarm, unless the person has a ten¬ 
dency to apoplexy, in which case it may do no 
harm. 

Treatment.— Apply cold water or ice to the 
bleeding part and to the back of the neck; keep 
the head exposed to cold air. Elevating the 
arms will frequently stop nose bleeding. An¬ 
other good way is to press on the facial arteries. 
These may be found by moving the finger along 
the under side of the lower jaw from the chin 
backward, until a notch is felt about three- 
fourths of an inch forward of the angle of the 
jaw; at this point, the facial artery, which sup¬ 
plies the nose with blood, passes over the jaw¬ 
bone. By pressing firmly on the artery on both 
sides of the face, the blood is prevented from 
reaching the nose, consequently, the bleeding 
must cease. There are, however, occasional cases 
in which these arteries connect with arteries 
within the head after entering the nose ; in such 
cases, pressure on the facial arteries will be use¬ 
less ; in all other cases it will be successful. 
When other means fail, the hot foot-bath should 

16 


Fira. Phys. 


230 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


be resorted to, also plugging the nostril, being 
careful to insert the plug back of the bleeding 
vessel, otherwise, the blood would run into the 
mouth and throat. 

BLEEDING FROM THE LUNGS-HAEM¬ 
OPTYSIS. 

When bleeding occurs in the lungs or bron- 
chial tubes, the blood is generally raised by cough¬ 
ing. It is generally frothy and of a bright-red 
hue. The quantity expelled may vary from a 
simple streak mingled with mucus or a minute 
clot or two, to one or more pints. The hemor¬ 
rhage very rarely proves fatal at once, though it 
hastens death if much blood is lost. 

Treatment. —The hemorrhage should be 
checked as speedily as possible. The patient 
should be put to bed with the head and shoul¬ 
ders elevated, and should keep perfectly quiet; 
he should not be excited, but should dismiss all 
fear, for mental excitement will increase and pro¬ 
long the bleeding. He should swallow sips of 
cold water, ice water, and occasionally bits of ice, 
and a cold compress should be kept over his 
chest, a hot fomentation should be applied to the 
spine at the same time. The limbs and feet 
must be kept warm. If there is congestion of 
the lungs, a hot foot-bath should be given, or the 
patient should be enveloped in a very thick 
woolen blanket, wrung out of hot water and ap- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


231 


plied as hot as lie can possibly bear it. The ex¬ 
tremities must be kept warm. A sitz-bath at 
from 98° to 105°, or a hot leg-bath at the same 
temperature, will frequently check the hemor¬ 
rhage without any other treatment. 


BLEEDING FROM THE STOMACH—ELZEM- 

ATEMESIS. 


When this occurs, the blood is usually vomited 
in large quantities; it is not frothy, as it is when 
it comes from the lungs ; it is frequently mixed 
with food. Inexperienced persons often find 
great difficulty in determining between bleeding 
from the lungs and air passages of the throat, 
and bleeding from the stomach and meat-pipe. 

To enable the reader to distinguish between 
them, we subjoin the following table of symptoms 
of each :— 


SYMPTOMS OF 

ELEEDING FROM THE LUNGS. 

Difficult breathing. 

Pain or heat in chest. 

Blood coughed up in mouth¬ 
fuls. 

Blood frothy. 

Blood bright-red color. 

Blood mingled with mucus. 


SYMPTOMS OF 

BLEEDING FROM THE STOMACH. 

Nausea. 

Weight, pressure, and uneas¬ 
iness, in region of the stom¬ 
ach. 

Blood vomited profusely. 

Blood not frothy. 

Blood dark-red color. 

Blood mingled with food. 


Treatment.— The treatment for bleeding at 
the stomach should be in all respects as that for 



232 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


bleeding at the lungs, except that solid food 
should be abstained from. 

BLEEDING FROM THE KIDNEYS AND 

URINARY PASSAGES—HiEMATURIA. 

This may arise from the presence of stone in 
the bladder or kidneys, or in the tubes that con¬ 
vey the urine from the kidneys to the bladder, 
or it may be caused by inflammation of the blad¬ 
der or kidneys. 

Treatment.— If inflammation exists, it must be 
reduced. See Inflammation of Urinary Organs. 
Cold or cool sitz-baths and injections are the lo¬ 
cal appliances. The general health should be 
well attended to. 

BLEEDING FROM THE RECTUM. 

This is usually caused by inflammation of the 
mucous membrane of the rectum, or the large in¬ 
testine, or from hemorrhoids or blind piles. 

Treatment.— Take cool sitz-baths for five or 
eight minutes at 75°, followed by brisk hand 
rubbing, or the hot sitz-bath, followed by cold. 
Ice may be introduced into the rectum with ad¬ 
vantage if the bleeding surface is low down, or 
cold injections may be taken once a day, or a hot 
enema once a day with water at 105° Fahrenheit. 

UTERINE HEMORRHAGE. 

There are two kinds of uterine hemorrhage. 
The first that Ave notice is called menorrhagia. 

<_5 


DISEASES AND TIIEIIl TREATMENT. 


233 


This is simply an increased flow of the menses. 
The second is called metrorrhagia. The last is 
bleeding, independent of the menses, and is the 
proper uterine hemorrhage. The diseases which 
give rise to this difficulty are cancer, polypus tu¬ 
mors, congestion, and inflammation. 

Treatment. —If a polypus tumor exists, a sur¬ 
geon should be called, and the tumor removed. 
In other cases, ice or cold water applied, or a 
cold sitz-bath for a few minutes, or a hot sitz and 
foot-bath, or even the introduction of air to the 
bleeding parts, will usually be all that is required. 
The coldest water or ice, in a bladder or rubber 

m 

bag, should be kept over the lower part of the 
abdomen, with heat to lower part of spine. If 
these appliances do not stop the bleeding, the 
vaginal canal should be packed with a sponge or 
soft napkin. If the bleeding is consequent upon 
childbirth, the plugging must not be resorted to. 
The hot foot-bath, and cold to the abdomen, and 
air to' the bleeding vessels, and heat to the lower 
part of spine, are the appliances to be used. In 
the first variety give the warm foot-bath. 

CONGESTION. 

The term congestion denotes an abnormal ac- 
cumulation of blood in a part. It may or may 
not be accompanied with pain; it is not accom¬ 
panied with either heat or redness. 

Cause. —Anything that will occasion an un- 


234 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


balancing of the circulation may cause conges¬ 
tion. The vital organs may become congested 
by chilling the surface or extremities, or by 
wearing tight garments, or by the use of stimu¬ 
lating food. The brain may become congested 
by excessive mental labor, or anxiety, or by con¬ 
stipated bowels. In the last case, the overloaded 
bowel presses against the artery which carries 
blood to the lower extremities, and partially 
closes it, thus preventing the blood from flowing 
as freely through this artery as it otherwise 
would; the heart in the meantime does not 
slacken its action, consequently, at every beat it 
forces more blood to the brain than it would 
were the lower arteries unobstructed. 

Treatment.— There are three ways in which 
congestion may be treated, either of which, in 
some cases, may be successful. It will be best, 
however, in all serious cases, to combine the 
three modes. 

1. Pcemove the cause, whatever it may be. 

2. Apply cold to the part, which will contract 
the capillaries, and force the blood along, and 
prevent the reception of an oversupply. 

3. Apply warmth or heat to some other part 
of the surface or to the extremities, thereby in¬ 
ducing temporary congestion in them; this will 
relieve the previously congested organ. The 
heat should not be continued long at any one 
time. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


235 


INFLAMMATIONS. 

Every part of the body is liable to inflamma¬ 
tion, and there are very few diseases in which 
there is not more or less inflammation in some 
part of the body. Hence, a knowledge of the 
• nature of inflammation will serve as a key to the 
comprehension of the nature of a very large 
number of diseases. 

In very many diseases, inflammation of some 
part of the system is the immediate cause of the 
disease, consequently,, in treating any disease in 
which inflammation is one of the conditions, we 
should seek to reduce the inflammation. 

Symptoms. —Inflammation is a disease which 
is characterized by pain, swelling, heat, and red¬ 
ness. Inflammation in different situations has 
points of difference relating to the structure af¬ 
fected, and it presents diverse modifications de¬ 
dependent on other circumstances than its seat. 
Nevertheless, there are features common to acute 
inflammation wherever seated, and under all cir¬ 
cumstances, sufficient to enable us to identify the 
disease. 

A part may be swollen by an accumulation of 
water or of air therein, as in dropsy and emphy¬ 
sema—wind dropsy—yet there may be neither 
pain, heat, nor redness. We must not confound 
these conditions with inflammation. Both may 


236 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


exist without there being any inflammation in 
the part. 

Neither must we confound inflammation with 
congestion. Although the last always precedes 
inflammation, it may exist independent of it. 
Congestion is simply the swelling of a part, 
caused by an accumulation of blood; and al- . 
though pain may exist, there is neither heat nor 
redness. 

Whenever the circulation is disturbed from 
any cause, there must of necessity be, relatively, 
more blood in some parts of the body than in 
others. Some organs become congested with 
blood which is not passed on readily because of 
the relaxed condition of the capillary vessels. 

Whenever inflammation terminates by simple 
subsidence, it is said to terminate by resolution. 
In such a case, the congestion increases until 
some portion of the blood stagnates in some of 
the capillary vessels toward the center of the af¬ 
fected part. In a short time, preternatural heat 
is occasioned by the activity of the tissues to 
move the blood onward, and the part is then 
said to be inflamed. If the heat is not very 
great, nor continued for any considerable time, 
there will be no leakage of the blood nor of any 
of its constituent parts, nor any change in it. 
The inflammation begins to recede, the stagnant 
but still fluid blood is again set in motion, the 
rapidity of the circulation in the surrounding 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


237 


vessels diminishes, and the part returns in all re¬ 
spects to its former condition. This may he prop¬ 
erly called the spontaneous cure of inflammation, 
and to this event there seems to be always a 
natural tendency, which may be promoted by 
proper treatment. 

Whenever the heat of inflammation is great or 
is long continued, other events than resolution 
will be liable to occur. The first we notice is the 
pouring out of the watery portion of the blood into 
the loose tissues. Sometimes some of the small 
vessels give way and hemorrhage into the part be¬ 
comes an event of inflammation. It is supposed 
that this occurs in a greater or less degree in 
most cases of inflammation. 

A third event of inflammation is the pouring 
out of the fibrine or coagulable lymph (that por¬ 
tion of the blood from which the tissues are built) 
into the loose tissues or upon the inflamed 
surface. When this lymph is poured out in cer¬ 
tain locations, the parts become thereby adhered. 
In some cases, organs have been united firmly to 
other organs or to the w r alls of the cavity in which 
they are contained. If the lymph is poured out 
of the vessels among the tissues, it glues them 
together, and the organ becomes hard, and is said 
to be indurated. 

A fourth event is the formation of pus, and is 
called suppuration. In this case, the lymph un¬ 
dergoes a change, occasioned bv the excessive 

O O ' v 


238 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


heat of the part or by a less degree of heat long- 
applied. There are two kinds of pus; the first 

of which is called healthy, because it has not un- 

% 

dergone decomposition. It consists of yellow 
globules diffused through a watery fluid, and is 
an opaque, smooth fluid of the consistence of 
cream, and has little or no smell. The second 
kind of pus is called ichorous. It is a thin, 
watery, acrid pus, containing decomposed matter. 

A fifth event of inflammation is ulceration. 
This occurs when in the process of suppuration. 
Some of the tissues become decomposed, and an 
open sore is produced. 

A sixth event of inflammation is gangrene, or 
the death of the part. 

RATIONALE OF INFLAMMATION. 

Inflammation, like all other diseases, is the effort 
of the vitalized tissues or organs to expel impu¬ 
rities or poisons from the system, or to protect 
it from injurious mechanical, chemical, or vital 
irritants. This is proved by the fact that when 
any foreign body or substance becomes so firmly 
imbedded in the flesh that it cannot be removed 
by absorption, the part becomes inflamed, and 
pus is thrown around it, and by thus forming an 
abscess it is prevented from coming in contact 
with the living tissues. Or, if a part of the body 
becomes dead, the living parts, if possessed of suf¬ 
ficient vitality, immediately separate the dead 


DISEASES AND TIIEIII TREATMENT. 


239 


portion by throwing out pus between the living 
and the dead, and the dead portion soon sloughs 
away, and behind the pus which protects the liv¬ 
ing parts, granulations, or a new growth of flesh, 
take place, healing the part. 

VARIETIES OF INFLAMMATION. 

Inflammatory affections may be divided into 
several distinct kinds. That form which is defi¬ 
nitely limited, and which tends to suppuration, 
as in the case of boils and abscesses, is called 
phlegmonous. That kind which is attended with 
eruptions, rashes, and extensive ulcerations, is 
called erysipelatous. 

If the inflammation tends to produce a preter¬ 
natural membrane on any of the mucous surfaces, 
as in croup or diptheria, it is called catarrhal or 
membranous inflammation. If the inflamma¬ 
tion is confined principally to the glands or to the 
serous membranes lining the cavities of the body, 
it is called scrofulous or strumous. When con¬ 
fined to the structures of the joints, it is called 
arthritic. 

Inflammation is also divided into acute, sub¬ 
acute, and chronic. The first is attended with 
general fever; the second, with an occasional 
slight febrile paroxysm, while the third is not 
attended with any general disturbance. 




240 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


GENERAL TREATMENT OF INFLAMMA¬ 
TION. 

In treating inflammation, it is desirable to re¬ 
store the inflamed parts to their normal condition 
before any of the serious events previously men¬ 
tioned shall have occurred. To do this, care must 
be taken to remo\ r e the cause, whatever it may 
be. The diet must also be regulated, and all 
stimulating or irritating substances, also all con¬ 
centrated substances and condiments, must be 
withheld therefrom. Feed the patient on plain, 
nourishing food. 

If the external surface is the part inflamed, 
cold wet cloths should be applied without inter¬ 
ruption in the early stages, with a view to re¬ 
duce the inflammation before suppuration takes 
place. In this case, the cold cloths should be 
changed as often as they become warm. There 
may be cases in which cold will cause pain; in 
such cases, make a tepid application. In some 
cases it will be impossible to prevent suppura¬ 
tion from taking place, in which case, as soon as 
it is ascertained that pus is forming, the cold ap¬ 
plications should be dispensed with, and hot ap¬ 
plications or warm poultices applied instead, if 
the inflammation is external. 

If the inflammation is deep seated, or is in 
some internal organ, hot fomentations should be 
applied over the part once or twice a day for 
from fifteen minutes to half an hour or more, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT; 211 

followed by cold applications for from three to five 
minutes; or, the hot and cold applications may 
alternate. A cool wet cloth should be applied at 
all times when the fomentation is not applied. If 
the feet and limbs are cold, ^apply a hot foot¬ 
bath. If the patient is strong, a warm bath of any 
kind for ten minutes mav be given twice a week ; 
but if he is weak, give the lialf-bath at 90° or 95° 
for ten minutes, or the dripping-sheet at 92°, or, 
if he is very weak, give the sponge-bath. 

Local inflammation will be treated under the 
head of local diseases. 

DROPSY. 

This word signifies an accumulation of watery 
liquid in some of the natural cavities of the body, 
or a diffusion of this fluid through the loose tis¬ 
sue, or both. It is an important symptom of 
other diseases, for water can never collect unless 
some of the tissues are diseased. 

There are certain cavities in the body which 
do not open externally, neither do they commu¬ 
nicate with other cavities, nor with each other 
by any opening. These cavities are each lined 
with smooth and delicate membranes, called 
serous membranes, whose office it is to secrete a 
smooth serous or watery fluid for the purpose ot 
keeping the organs contained within the cavity 
well lubricated. 

In health, there is a constant secretion of this 


242 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


fluid, yet it does not accumulate, for it is ab¬ 
sorbed as fast as it is poured into these cavities. 
There may be two conditions in which this water 
may be caused to accumulate. The first, which 
is called active or acute dropsy, is caused by an 
inflamed condition of the serous membrane. 
This causes an excessive amount of the fluid to 
be poured out. The second is called chronic 
or passive dropsy, and is occasioned by deficient 
absorption caused by an inflamed, congested, 
torpid, or otherwise diseased condition of some of 
the vital organs. 

Such being the case, it is evident that any¬ 
thing which can induce irritation, congestion, or 
a slight degree of inflammation of the serous 
membranes, such as cold, the sudden repelling 
(striking in) of skin diseases, the changing of the 
seat (metastasis) of gout or rheumatism (this is 
caused by taking drugs), etc., will occasion acute 
or active dropsy. Secondly, whatever weakens 
the tissues or impoverishes the blood, as insuffi¬ 
cient food, loss of blood, or exhausting disease. 
Thirdly, anything which obstructs the circulation 
and causes a retention or sluggish movement of 
blood in the veins, as the closing of the veins by 
inflammation, or the pressure of swollen or in¬ 
flamed organs. The pressure caused by tumors, 
as well as organic disease of any of the vital 
organs, will frequently cause chronic dropsy. 

If dropsy occurs within the skull, it is called 


DISEASES ANI) THEIR TREATMENT. 


243 


hydrocephalus, or dropsy of the brain. If it oc¬ 
curs within the chest, or thorax, it is called hy¬ 
drothorax, or dropsy of the chest. If within the 
pericardium—the membrane that surrounds the 
heart—it is called hydropericardium, or dropsy 
of the heart. If it occurs within the peritoneum 
—the membrane which lines the abdominal cav¬ 
ity—it is called ascites. If the water is collected 
within the coats of the testicle, it is called hydro¬ 
cele. If the water is generally diffused through¬ 
out the loose tissues of the entire body, it is 
called anasarca, or general dropsy. If the dropsy 
is confined to the feet, or to any other small lo¬ 
cality, it is called oedema. 

Acute dropsy, or that form which is produced 
by active inflammation of the serous membranes, 
will generally end favorably soon after the in¬ 
flammation of the membranes subsides, but that 
which supervenes on other diseases is rarely cur¬ 
able. 

General Treatment.— In treating dropsy it 
is important to know its cause. In the acute 
form, the treatment must be such as to allay the 
inflammation. This will be spoken of in con¬ 
nection with local inflammations. In treating 
chonic dropsy, we should seek to improve the 
general health of the patient by a careful com¬ 
pliance with all of the laws of health (read care¬ 
fully Part I.). The accumulated water may be 
removed by occasional sweats (see Hot-air-bath, 


244 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


Part III.), taken perhaps twice a week, also the 
wet-sheet-pack may be taken once a w T eek and 
the hot-air or vapor-bath once. Warm clothing 
should be worn at all times. In addition to the 
above, the patient should take constitutional 
treatment, which see. In many cases, the water 
accumulates so as almost to prevent breathing. 
In such case, it is necessary to draw the water 
off by tapping. 

SCROFULA. 

The term scrofula comes from the word scrofa, 
which signifies a sow, because swine w r ere 
supposed to be especially subject to swellings in 
the neck. This term is used to designate a pe¬ 
culiar primary, constitutional disease, which may 
result either in the formation of tubercles or in 
some specific form of inflammation or ulceration. 
The peculiar condition of the system that lies at 
the foundation of these varieties of this wide¬ 
spread disease is called the scrofulous, strumous, 
or tuberculous diathesis. This term simply signi¬ 
fies a frail, delicate, infirm, lax organization with 
weak depurating organs. In the early stages of 
this disease, tubercles are developed. 

The word tubercle signifies a knot, or excres¬ 
cence. A tubercle is a small tumor or morbid 
growth in the substance of an organ. It differs 
from the tissues, yet it has some vitality. It is 
somewhat of the nature of the wart. At first, the 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


245 


tubercle is a gray, tough, compressible, semi-trans¬ 
parent substance, resembling in appearance the 
millet seed. 

For a time, tubercles have a low vitality, but 
alter a while, they die and are decomposed into 
a yellow, cheesy mass. These tubercles have 
been found in various organs. The following is 
the order of frequency in which various organs 
were found affected, by Willigk, who examined 
1317 cases of tuberculous diseases. 

The lungs were the most frequently affected, 
next, the intestines, mesenteric glands, larynx, 
lymphatic glands, peritoneum, spleen, kidneys, 
pleura, liver, air passages, bones, genital or¬ 
gans, brain, membranes of the brain, urinary 
passages, heart case, stomach, bowels, skin, 
muscles, tongue, pharynx, pancreas, and heart. 
It will be seen that every organ is liable to 
be the seat of tubercles. When these tuber¬ 
cles break down, they usually form abscesses 
or ulcers. Sometimes the decomposed tubercles 
are gathered up by the lymphatic vessels and 
carried to the lymphatic glands (generally of the 
neck, or those under the arms, or in the groins), 
where they are lodged. These glands soon be¬ 
came inflamed and an abscess forms which soon 
becomes a foul, running ulcer, and is very hard 
to heal. If the tubercles form in the lungs, the 
disease is called tubercular consumption. In this 

Fam. Phyr. 1 / 


246 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


case, abscesses form in the lungs. If the tuber¬ 
cles form in the mesentery—the fatty membrane 
that binds the intestines together—abscesses form, 
and mesenteric consumption, or consumption of 
the bowels, is the result. 

Tubercles of the skin are usually formed in the 
face. There is to be seen an innumerable num¬ 
ber of small, red eminences, which are hard and 
of a bright color. These occasionally become 
disorganized, and discharge pus until the tuber¬ 
cle is all removed, after which the sore heals. 

The scrofulous diathesis is very easily recog¬ 
nized. The child has a pale and pasty complex¬ 
ion, large head, narrow chest, protuberent belly, 
weak and flabby muscles, and is apt to have sore 
eyelids, or sore ears, or sores about its face and 
neck. Scrofula may develop at any period of 
life in those who are liable to it. The special 
causes most frequently assigned for its appear¬ 
ance are hereditary influences, impure air, im¬ 
proper food, cold, damp atmosphere, and syphi¬ 
litic affections. 

By hereditary influences is meant that the 
child has inherited a weak constitution—weak 
vital organs—from his parents. 

Treatment.— It is evident that all those causes 
which induce this disease must be sedulously 
avoided. The patient should have an abundance 
of pure, fresh air and clear sunlight. He should 
have an abundant supply of nutritious food, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


247 


which should consist principally of fruits, grains, 
and vegetables. Greasy and oily food is partic¬ 
ularly bad in this disease, and should be avoided. 
Milk, if pure, is not objectionable when cooked 
with other food. The patient should exercise 
daily in the open air according to his strength. 
He should bathe two or three times a week. 
The form of bath is immaterial. It may be the 
tepid full-bath for ten minutes, or the half-bath, 
or dripping-sheet, or any of these alternated with 
the wet-sheet-pack. If there is fever, the cool 
full bath or pack may be taken once or twice 
daily as long as the fever lasts. The bowels 
must be kept free by the use of proper food or 
with enemas. The patient should take a sun¬ 
bath daily. Cold wet compresses should be con¬ 
stantly applied to the tumors so long as they 
manifest heat, redness, or pain. Nothing but the 
strictest observance of the laws of health will 
enable a person to overcome this disease. Read 
Part I., and obey its teachings, also see Constitu¬ 
tional Treatment, and bathe as there directed. 

C ANGER. 

This distressing malady makes its first ap¬ 
pearance as a hard tumor. At first, it cannot be 
determined with certainty that it is a cancer, but 
after remaining dormant for a time (this may 
vary from a few weeks or months to many years), 
it increases in size, and growths called roots are 


218 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


seen proceeding from it into the surrounding tis¬ 
sues. After a time, tlie tumor becomes painful, 
the pains being sharp, or lancinating, and, finally, it 
becomes an open ulcer, discharging fetid, watery 
matter. The skin becomes tawny or straw col- 
ored, and the general health soon gives way. 

Of the cause of cancer, little is known. All 
classes of society are subject to it. It appears, 
however, that those who are descended from can¬ 
cerous, scrofulous, or consumptive parents, are 
more liable to it than others. 

Treatment.— It is seldom that cancer is cured, 
yet palliative treatment may be so administered 
that life may be prolonged. The great point is 
to keep the constitutional powers up to as near 
the standard of health as possible, which can 
only be accomplished by nourishing food, pure 
air, warm clothing, personal cleanliness, mental 
occupation, and a strict observance of the laws of 
health (see Part I.). In the incipient stages, 
cancers, as well as other tumors, are often re¬ 
moved by absorption induced by an abstemious 
diet. It is not meant by this that the patient 
should so far reduce himself as to become weak, 
but that he should use the best and most whole¬ 
some food in as small quantity as the demands of 
nutrition will allow. In all other respects, the 
general treatment pointed out for scrofula should 
be followed in treating cancer. If the cancer has 
become an open ulcer, it will be useless to try to 


DISEASES AND TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


249 


cure it by absorption. Cancer is often removed 
by tlie knife or by caustics; but it generally re¬ 
appears after a few months unless removed while 
in its first stages. It has been removed when in 
the first stage by absorption induced by the fre¬ 
quent application of freezing mixtures. 

When this disease is known to exist, all stim¬ 
ulants and irritating food must be avoided. 

O 


RICKETS. 

This disease usually manifests itself in early 
life, generally previous to the fifth year. It is a 
constitutional disease, and consists chiefly in an 
absence of earthy matter from the bones. The 
cause may be hereditary, children of scrofulous 
parents being particularly liable to it. Anything 
that impairs the powers of digestion and assimi¬ 
lation is also a remote cause of this disease. In¬ 
sufficient and improper food, impure air, resi¬ 
dence in damp, cold, dark, or filthy dwellings, 
and all similar circumstances, serve to induce 
this disease. 

Symptoms. —The earliest symptoms are lan¬ 
guor, occasional fever, sadness, irritability of 
temper, copious perspiration about the head, 
general tenderness of the body and limbs. After 
a while, the head appears enlarged, the face pale, 
and the features thin, the wrists, knees, and 
ankles become swollen, and are slightly painful 


250 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


to the touch, and if the child attempts to stand 
or walk, the legs soon become crooked. 

Treatment. —As the chief cause of this dis¬ 
ease is improper food during the first year of the 
child’s life, together with other unhygienic hab¬ 
its and agents, it is absolutely necessary that the 
child should have the best of food (graham bread 
and milk is excellent), plenty of pure air and 
sunlight, regular exercise, and that it be kept 
clean. This, with two or three cool baths each 
week and a thorough hand rubbing daily, will 
generally bring about a measure of health, but 
more or less deformity will always exist, unless 
taken in hand early. 

Parents who are of scrofulous diathesis (see 
Scrofula) should pay the strictest attention to the 
laws of health if they would have their children 
escape rickets and other diseases toward which 
they are liable to transmit to their offspring a 
tendency. 

OBESITY OB COBPULENCY. 

A morbid accumulation of fat may shorten life 
by inducing other diseases, and by suffocation. 

Pei sons who have a tendency to obesity should 
abstain from the use of sugar, or sweets, and from 
all kind of fats and oils, butter and cream, and 
fiom food that contains much starch, such as po¬ 
tatoes, fine wheaten flour, corn, sago, etc., and 
they should not overeat. A spare diet, composed 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


251 


of subacid fruits, oatmeal, unbolted wheat meal, 
and an abundance of out-door work, with a daily 
cool dripping-slieet-bath, will correct this diffi- 
eulty. 

GOUT. 

This is an inflammatory affection of the joints 
of the toes, feet, fingers, and hands. It is accom¬ 
panied by great pain and swelling of the affected 
joints with more or less fever, and by some dis¬ 
turbance of the digestive organs. 

This disease is generally caused by the use of 
rich and highly seasoned food, wine, and spir¬ 
ituous and fermented liquors. When drugs 
are administered in the treatment of this dis¬ 
ease, it is not uncommon for the inflammation 
of the joint to suddenly subside, and for a new 
inflammation to manifest itseh in some of the in¬ 
ternal organs, which in many cases proves fatal. 
This changing the seat of the inflammation, which 
is called metastasis, has never been known to oc¬ 
cur under the hygienic treatment. 

Treatment. —The first thing to be done to in¬ 
sure recovery is to cut off the supply of rich food, 
pies, cakes, preserves, puddings, gravies, condi¬ 
ments, and all spirituous or fermented liquors, 
and to place the patient on a spare diet of hy¬ 
gienic food (see Diet for Sick). He must eat as 
little as he can subsist upon for a few days. The 
cold compress should be applied to the inflamed 



252 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


part until the heat is reduced to the normal 
standard, but no longer. If the cold water causes 
pain, tepid water can be applied, and then the 
temperature gradually lowered. A daily pack 
should be given for half an hour, followed by a 
dripping-sheet, or any other form of general bath. 

If the patient is weak, with feeble nerves, and 
a shattered constitution, cold water should not be 
applied, but all the applications should be tepid 
or warm. In some instances, hot fomentations 
applied to the affected part for fifteen or twenty 
minutes will be very beneficial. 

RHEUMATISM. 

This disease is not confined to any special lo¬ 
cality nor to any particular organ of the body, 
but it particularly affects the dense tissues of the 
joints, the tendons, and ligaments, and the mem¬ 
branous sheaths of the muscles and their fibers, 
and the lining membranes of the cavities of the 
body, all of which are composed of white, fibrous 
tissue, to which this disease seems to be confined. 
There are two forms of rheumatism, the acute 
and the chronic. 

ACUTE RHEUMATISM. 

This disease is characterized by fever, profuse 
sweating, and inflammation of the membranes of 
some one or more of the large joints. This dis¬ 
ease is to be especially dreaded on account of the 
extreme suffering it causes. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


253 


Symptoms. —The early symptoms are restless¬ 
ness and fever, succeeded at the end of twenty- 
four hours by stiffness and aching pain in the 
limbs and joints. Exposure to cold and damp or 
similar depressing influences generally precedes 
these symptoms. The pain quickly increases, 
and in a very short time is accompanied by 
swelling and great tenderness in one or more ol 
the large joints, with high fever and much gen¬ 
eral disturbance. When the disease is fully es¬ 
tablished, the patient is very restless, yet he 
dares not move. The. pain in the affected joints 
(many of the joints are frequently affected) is so 
severe that the weight of the bed-clothes can 
hardly be tolerated. The skin is not unfrequent- 
ly bathed in sweat. 

Treatment. —Apply prolonged warm fomen¬ 
tations to the affected joints, or the hot fomenta¬ 
tion alternated with cold every five or ten min¬ 
utes for a half hour at a time, to mitigate the ex¬ 
treme pain and tenderness, then give a tepid 
wet-sheet-pack for an hour, unless the patient 
becomes weary. As soon as the patient can be 
moved from his bed, he should take a waim 
full bath, or a warm sitz-bath, for fifteen minutes, 
once a day, or he may take the liot-air-bath, 01 
the vapor-batli, for ten or fifteen minutes (see 
direction for these in Part III.). The patient 
should be restricted to a very spare diet for the 
first few days, or until the fever subsides. The 


254 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


diet should be composed of wheat meal or oatmeal 
gruel, toast, bread, and acid fruits; lemons, espe¬ 
cially, may be given freely. 

CHRONIC RHEUMATISM. 

This disease is similar to gout, except that the 
large joints are affected instead of the small ones. 
It differs from acute rheumatism in that the 
pain and tenderness are less, and there is little or 
no fever. 

Treatment.— The same as for gout, which see. 

FEVERS. 

A fever is a disease in which there is a general 

O 

disturbance of most or all of the vital functions, 
attended with cold, hot, and sweating stages. 
There is first a preliminary stage, of languor and 
weakness, with defective appetite, nausea, head¬ 
ache, pains in the small of the back, and limbs, 
with slight chilliness, or shivering. This is suc¬ 
ceeded by the confirmed stage, in which there is 
preternatural heat of the body, caused by in¬ 
creased activity and waste of the tissues, in¬ 
creased circulation, as manifested by the increased 
pulse, and extreme weakness. 

CLASSIFICATION OF FEVERS. 

It is hardly possible to find any two writers 
who are agreed as to the classification of fevers. 
We find fevers spoken of as typhus fever, brain 


DISEASES AND TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


255 


fever, congestive, yellow, ship, spotted, jail, camp, 
hospital, puerperal, bilious, putrid, low, nervous, 
mucous, mesenteric, milk, catarrhal, Panama and 
mountain fevers, ataxic fever, adynamic fever, 
gastric, enteric, typhoid, etc. This complexity 
of nomenclature is puzzling, not only to the non¬ 
professional reader, but to the medical practition¬ 
er, for many a physician finds it difficult to an¬ 
swer anxious friends when they ask what kind 
of fever the patient has. To avoid confusing the 
mind of the reader, fevers will be classified in 
this work in the simplest manner possible. 

As previously stated, ifc is evident that it does 
not matter whether we know the name of a disease, 
provided we know the conditions of the patient; 
for if we know these, we shall know what the pa¬ 
tient requires, even though the disease has no 
name. It is evident that the knowledge of the 
name of a disease will do us no good unless 
we know the conditions implied by that name. 
Therefore, out of the many names that have been 
applied to each form of fever, that one will be 
selected which most fully expresses the condition 
of the patient. 

A person sick with fever will always be in one 
of three conditions, and the treatment depends 
wholly on these conditions. 

1. He may be of vigorous constitution, with 
strong vital organs, and possessed of a great 
amount of vitality, without much gross or waste 


256 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


material in his system. In this case, there is 
great activity, with a strong determination of 
blood to the surface, so much so that the surface 
appears inflamed, and there is great heat, and 
the effort continues until the system is purified. 
Hence, we call this inflammatory fever, or, sim¬ 
ply, continued fever. 

There is still another form of fever, the nature 
of which is precisely like the above form in all 
respects except in the periodicity of the parox¬ 
ysms. In this form, there is a complete cessation 
or intermission of the paroxysms, during which 
the patient feels well. In this form of fever, the 
paroxysms may recur daily, or every other day, or 
they may skip two days. This form of fever is 
called intermittent fever, or ague. 

2. He may be weak and very gross, his system 
being filled with the retained excretions which 
his organs of depuration have failed to eliminate 
from his system. In this case, there is not much 
vitality. He may have had a large amount of 
vitality, however; but by unhygienic habits, 
such as overwork, either physical or mental, eat- 
ing highly-seasoned or greasy food, or drinking 
alcoholic beverages, smoking or chewing tobacco, 
breathing impure air, etc., the vital organs have 
gradually weakened and failed to depurate the 
system properly, and, as a consequence, it is filled 
with retained excretions. Grossness and strength 
cannot go together, for when there is much 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


237 


vitality, the system is kept pure by the proper 
organs. A fever with the patient in this gross 
condition is properly called putrid fever. 

3. He may have a weak nervous system, and 
but little vitality, and at the same time not be 
very gross. It matters not how much original 
vitality he may have had, if it has been reduced 
by any cause that has not occasioned much gross¬ 
ness, he will have a fever characterized by ex¬ 
treme weakness and nervous irritability. In this 
case, it will be proper to call the disease nervous 
fever. 

When either of the last two—that is, the 
putrid and the nervous—forms ot fever are contin¬ 
ued day after day, without intermission or re¬ 
mission of the paroxysm, the fever is said to be 
of the continued type, and thus we have putrid 
continued fever, and nervous continued fevei. 
Typhus and typhoid fevers may be either nervous 
or putrid; but they always belong to one or the 
other of these classes. If there is a daily subsi¬ 
dence or remission of the paroxysm, and yet not 
a full intermission, the fever is said to be oi the 
remittent type; hence, we may have putrid remit¬ 
tent fever and nervous remittent lever. 

In addition to the foregoing, there are certain 
forms of fever which depend upon some spe¬ 
cific cause, and which are characterized by cer¬ 
tain skin eruptions. These are properly called 
eruptive fevers. Of these, there are several 






258 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


varieties, each of which is only induced by its 
own special cause, and is characterized by its own 
peculiar eruption, hence it is proper that each 
variety have a special name, as small-pox, cow- 
pox, chicken-pox, measles, scarlatina, etc. 

Thus far, fever has been considered as a pri¬ 
mary disease, not dependent on any other disease. 
It is often the case, however, that fever is only a 
symptom of some other disease, and had it not 
been for that other disease, the fever would not 
have occurred. All such fevers are to be classed 
as symptomatic. 

It will be seen by the foregoing remarks that 
all fevers must assume one of three types. They 
must be either continued, remittent, or intermit¬ 
tent. The type which a fever assumes depends 
wholly upon the condition of the patient at the 
time the fever makes its appearance. If he has 
strong vital organs, the disease is continuous un¬ 
til his sytem is purified, regardless of the amount 
of grossness his system may contain; but if he 
has not sufficient vitality to continue the reme¬ 
dial effort until purification is accomplished, then 
the fever intermits or remits, as the case may lie, 
for the purpose of affording rest to the vital 
organs. Therefore, it is evident that the only 
importance we should attach to the type a 
fever may assume is in view of the assistance it 
may render us in determining the actual condi¬ 
tion of the patient. Hence, type is only symp- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 2 59 

tomatic of certain conditions, and as there are 
many symptoms which indicate the condition of 
the patient, there is no more propriety in basing 
a plan of treatment for fever on the type it as¬ 
sumes than on any other single symptom it may 
manifest. 

As has been shown, all fever patients must be 
in one of three conditions, viz., strong, with but 
little grossness, or weak, with but little grossness, 
or weak, with great grossness. It therefore fol¬ 
lows that in classifying fevers with reference to 
the treatment, they should be classified in accord¬ 
ance with these conditions, and this is the plan 
adopted in this work. This gives us, so far as 
treatment is concerned, but three forms of fever 
when considered as a primary disease, viz., 

Simple Fever, 

Putrid Fever, 

Nervous Fever. 

Let it be understood that in this classification, 
we have special reference to the condition of the 
patient and to the treatment of the fever, and not 
to its cause, nor to the symptoms it manifests, nor 
to the liability, in certain cases, of the disease be- 
ino- communicated from one person to another. 

GENERAL CAUSES OE FEVER. 

These may be stated in general terms to be 
anything that will cause a clogging or weaken¬ 
ing of any of the purifying organs, thereby caus- 


260 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ing them to cease their work, and, as a conse¬ 
quence, causing the body to become filled with 
retained excretions. The fever is notliino; more 
nor less than an attempt on the part of the or¬ 
ganism to purify the system by exciting undue 
activity in various parts, thereby disturbing all 
the organic functions. The cause may be local 
contagions, or poisons, impure water or unhealth¬ 
ful food, foul air, personal uncleanliness, overwork, 
worry of mind, exposure, gluttony, intemperance, 
or starvation. 

GENERAL TREATMENT OF FEVER. 

It will be readily understood that in treating 
fever—the object being to restore the patient to 
health—the treatment should begin at the very 
outset of the disease, and that it should be such 
as the conditions of the patient indicate. Let us 
examine these conditions. 1. There is languor 

O 

and weakness. 2. The appetite is defective. 
This is because the food cannot be used in build¬ 
ing up the tissues, as they are engaged in other 
work—the disease—therefore the system makes 
no demand for food, but loathes it. 3. There is 
nausea, caused by morbid matter in the stomach. 
4. There is usually a constipated state of the 
bowels. 5. There is headache, with a slight sen¬ 
sation of chilliness. These are the premonitory 
symptoms of fever in nearly every form and case 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


201 


that occurs, and they should not go unheeded for 
a moment. 

If proper treatment is adopted as soon as these 
symptoms begin to manifest themselves, the dis¬ 
ease may be so modified—if not entirely obviated 
—as to cause but little alarm, and no serious dis¬ 
comfort to the patient. 

Begin the treatment, then, as soon as the 
symptoms of febrile disorder make their appear¬ 
ance. If the patient has no appetite, he should 
fast for one or two meals. If he feels languid 
and weak, he should lay aside all business and 
care, and rest till he is well. II troubled with 
nausea, or sickness at the stomach, he should 
drink two or three pints of tepid water and titil¬ 
late his throat with his finger or with a feather 
to cause vomiting, and thus free his stomach of 
morbid or bilious matter. (If the warm water 
does not occasion vomiting, use hot water.) It 
his bowels are constipated, he should free them 
with a thorough enema of pure water. If his 
head aches or is congested, he should take a hot 
bath, and draw the blood to the surface and ex¬ 
tremities. The bath may be either the full-bath, 
sitz-bath, or the hot-air or vapor-batli. It should 
be taken until perspiration is induced, unless 
faintness occurs. This should be followed by a 
cool bath for three minutes, and then by wiping 
dry, or in place of the bath, a tepid pack may lie 
Fam. Piiyg. I <S 



262 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


taken for an hour. Tlie majority of cases of fe¬ 
ver, which, under drug treatment, prove most 
serious maladies, would be prevented if treated 
in the above manner at the outset. Fevers in 
general should be treated with tepid or warm 
water. 

In the majority of cases, the patient fails to 
take the treatment he should until after the be¬ 
ginning of the secondary or confirmed stage. In 
this stage, there is greater weakness, an intensi¬ 
fied headache, preternatural heat, which may be 
very great, and an accelerated pulse. If the 
treatment is now commenced, it should be by 
placing the patient in a warm or hot pack or 
bath, unless the heat of the patient be very in¬ 
tense, then cold water may be used. The heat of 
the patient will be reduced by the evaporation of 
the water from the surface of his body. Cold 
cloths should be applied to the head, unless it is 
congested and feels sore, in which case apply hot 
fomentations. The food should be very plain, 
yet nutritious (see Diet for the Sick). 

There is a tendency in all fevers, as the doctors 
say, to “ run a certain course and then cease,” and 
scores of quotations from many of the best med¬ 
ical authors might be cited in which they in¬ 
form their students that it is impossible to cure a 
fever, and warn them against making the at¬ 
tempt ; for, say they, “ after it has run its course, it 
will terminate naturally in the re-establishment of 


DISEASES AND TIIE1H TREATMENT. 


263 


health when uninterfered with by art.”— Tanner. 
Therefore, in treating fever, we should ever keep 
in view the fact that fever is not to be cured, but 
to be guided. In seeking to direct or control fe- 
ver, we should ever bear in mind the three con¬ 
ditions, in either of which the patient may be 
found, viz.: 1. Strength and activity without 
grossness. 2. Weakness without much gross¬ 
ness. 3. Weakness with grossness. In the first 
form, the fever being high, without grossness, the 
principal requirement is to cool the patient. In 
the second form, there being weakness without 
grossness, the principal requirement is to balance 
the circulation. While in the third form, in 
which there is weakness with grossness, the prin¬ 
cipal requirement is to purify the system. In all 
forms of fever, free ventilation and sunlight are 
necessary to the patient’s recovery. 

SIMPLE FEVER OF THE CONTIHUED 

TYPE. 

This is a disease which need not give any 
alarm if it is rightly managed, as it is seldom fa¬ 
tal. It may be so slight as to cause but little dis¬ 
turbance of the vital functions, or it may mani¬ 
fest itself with very strongly marked symptoms. 
This class of fever includes what is called in¬ 
flammatory fever. 

Symptoms. —Lassitude, lack of energy for bod¬ 
ily or mental exertion, loss of appetite, nausea, 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


201 

pain in front portion of the head, aching of the 
back and limbs, coldness of surface, especially of 
the back, and frequently there is shivering. The 
chill may be quite light or very severe, or any¬ 
where between these extremes. At the end of a 
few hours, in most cases, the chill passes off, and 
the skin becomes dry and hot. In other cases, 
the heat will be extreme and the skin swollen 
and florid. The pulse will be quick, but not fre¬ 
quent, hard, full, and strong, the tongue, white 
with red edges, and there is generally a constant 
thirst; the eyes are reddish; the urine is scanty and 
high colored; the bowels are constipated. Gener¬ 
ally, there is not much mental disturbance, yet 
in some cases, the mind wanders, and the patient 
is restless, appearing very ill. There is a slight 
aggravation of all the symptoms each forenoon, 
and a still greater aggravation toward evening. 

The fever continues without intermission until 
the system is purified—the fever being a purify¬ 
ing effort—which usually occurs, when there is 
no treatment given, within eight or ten days. 
Under the hygienic system of treatment, the pa¬ 
tient generally recovers within five or six days, 
and fiequently within two or three, if treatment 
is given at the beginning. Treated with drugs, 
it is not uncommon for it to exceed the ten days 
which unaided nature requires, and to be changed 
into the putrid form. 

Treatment. If the patient has sufficient vi- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


265 

tality, the pack may be given two or three times 
a day, at a temperature most agreeable to him, 
until the heat becomes normal. Or large wet 
cloths may be spread over the body and limbs, and 
changed as often as they become warm. Free 
the bowels with enemas; free the stomach with 
warm-water emeticskeep the head cool. The 
pouring liead-bath may be used freely in this 
form of fever. The room must be well ven¬ 
tilated at all times. In all respects other than 
those given above, follow directions for General 
Treatment of Fever. 

SIMPLE FEVER OF THE INTERMIT¬ 
TENT TYPE—AGUE. 

This disease is known as ague, intermittent 
fever, chill fever, etc. It also includes dumb 
ague. 

There are three forms of this disease, viz., 

Every-day ague, or Quotidian Type; 

Every-other-day ague, n Tertian Type ; 

Every-fourth-day ague, m Quartan Type. 

Cause. —Ague may be caused by any of the 
general causes of fever, which see. 

Symptoms. —This fever may be readily distin¬ 
guished from all other forms of fever by the fact 
that the paroxysms, which are characterized by 
hot, cold, and sweating stages, occur in regular 
succession, the cold stage varying from thirty 
minutes to four hours. This stage is gradually 


266 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


succeeded by the hot stage, in which the surface 
of the body becomes dry, and intensely hot. The 
mouth is parched, there is excessive thirst, bound¬ 
ing pulse, painful sensation of fullness in the 
head, general uneasiness, and frequently there is 
delirium. The hot stage, which is seldom of less 
than two or three, nor more than ten or twelve, 
hours’ duration, is followed by the sweating stage 
in which the whole body generally participates. 
The pulse and breathing become natural, and the 
patient soon feels quite well, and so continues un¬ 
til the next day, in every-day ague, or until the 
third or fourth day, in the tertian or quartan 
form of the disease, when lie again passes through 
the paroxysm. These paroxysms generally re¬ 
turn at about the same hour of the day. In some 
cases, however, they make their appearance an 
hour or so earlier each day; in others, an hour 
later. 

Like all other forms of fever, there is in this 
disease a tendency to terminate favorably, with¬ 
out the interference of art; but it is a slow dis¬ 
ease, and in very many instances, the patient feels 
completely worn out before the termination. 

Ireatment. —If the case is a recent one, and 
the patient s vitality is not much lowered, it is 
easily managed. The bowels should be freed 
with enemas, and the stomach with warm-water 
emetics. When the chill is expected, the patient 
should go to bed, cover up warm, with a hot jug 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


267 


or hot brick to his feet, and a bag of hot sand to 
his back, and a cold wet cloth to his head if it 
aches. He should drink a glass or two of hot 
water during the cold stage. As soon as the hot 
stage comes on, or soon after, the patient should 
be placed in a warm wet-slieet-pack, in which he 
may lie from thirty to sixty minutes, having a 
cold wet cloth on his head. Some prefer the cold 
pack when the fever is on, but the temperature 
is immaterial, for the cold pack immediately be¬ 
comes warm. The patient should be allowed to 
drink freely of cold water or of lemonade. On 
the day during which the chill does not occur, he 
should take either the hot full-bath, sitz-bath, 
vapor-bath, or hot-air-bath—it is immaterial 
which—and immediately following this, the 
sponge-bath or cool dripping-sheet. 

If the case is of long standing, or if the patient’s 
vitality be low, the hot full-bath should not be 
administered oftener than once a week; the warm 
sitz and foot-bath should take its place on other 
days. In chronic cases, the liver, or spleen, or 
both, are torpid or congested, and to induce ac¬ 
tion in them, the wet-girdle should be worn most 
of the time. See description in Part III. Rest 
from all care and labor is essential to recovery. 
If hard water is used for drink it must be discon¬ 
tinued and soft water substituted. 

In this disease it will be necessary to provide 
the patient with a nourishing diet, which may 


2 G8 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


include any of the articles mentioned under the 
head of Diet for the Sick. 

CONGESTIVE CHILLS. 

Occasionally a person is taken with what is 
called a congestive chill, wdiich lasts from ten 
to thirty-six hours. The blood all recedes from 
the surface to the vital organs, which become 
so congested that they cannot do their work: 
consequently the patient dies. 

Treatment. —Give the full-bath at 110°, for 
fifteen minutes, then dash a few pailfuls of cold wa¬ 
ter over the body, and over the back in particu¬ 
lar. If, after the lapse of thirty minutes, the 
chill still continues, apply ice the full length of 
the spine, or a stream of cold water. The use of 
ice is often effectual when all other appliances 
fail. In applying ice, move it from the back of 
the neck down the spine repeatedly. 

NERVOUS FEVER—TYPHOID FEVER. 

In this fever, there is great debility, occasioned 
by the peculiarly weakened condition of the vi¬ 
tal organs at the access of the fever. This dis¬ 
ease usually lasts from fourteen to twenty-four 
days, when no drugs are taken. If drugs are 
taken, it very often lasts from thirty to fifty 
days, unless it sooner terminates in death. 

Symptoms. —At first the symptoms do not dif¬ 
fer from those of a mild or insignificant fever; 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 269 

but as the disease advances, the pulse becomes 
frequent, weak, and irregular, the mind is de¬ 
jected or delirious, the tongue is covered with a 
thick, white mucus. The countenance is pale 
and expressionless, yet the patient manifests no 
apparent anxiety. There is extreme weakness, 
but not much grossness or putricity, the breath 
is not very foul, neither are the discharges from 
the bowels as offensive as in putrid fever. After 
a few days, the skin, which at first is dry, becomes 
covered with a clammy sweat. 

Treatment.— The cold applications must never 
be administered in this disease, except to the 
head. If the fever is general and the heat great, 
the tepid sheet may be applied. Generally there 
will be a feeble circulation in the feet, conse¬ 
quently they will be cold. The principal treat¬ 
ment should consist in keeping the circulation 
equalized. This can be done by applying jugs 
or bottles of hot water or bags of hot sand to the 
feet and limbs when cold, and tepid wet cloths 
spread over the body and limbs when preternat- 
urally hot, or by frequent spongings of the 
whole body with tepid water. Relieve diarrhea, 
constipation, or nausea, the same as in other 
fevers. Give frequent sips of water to drink, but 
it must not be too cold. In this form of fever, 
the patient must have perfect quiet, and must 
see no one but the nurse. In all other respects, 
treat as directed for fevers in general. Under 


270 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


drug treatment, this disease is often fatal; under 
the hygienic system, it is seldom fatal. 

PUTRID FEVER—TYPHUS FEVER. 


This form of fever is characterized by great 
grossness. It is the camp, ship, jail, hospital, and 
mountain fever, of some authors; and includes 
what is known as yellow fever, bilious fever, and 
what many call typhoid fever. 

Symptoms.— Putrid fever differs from nervous 
in that while the nervous form commences mildly, 
with only slight sliiverings, the heat being scarce¬ 
ly above the natural temperature, the pulse small 
and only a little quickened, the putrid form com¬ 
mences suddenly and progresses rapidly, the chill 
is severe, the strength fails rapidly, the pulse is 
hard, small, quick, and fluttering, ringing in the ears, 
intense pain over the forehead and crown, with 
throbbing in the temples. The countenance has 
an anxious expression, and there will be delirium, 
followed by stupor. The breath is hot and offens¬ 
ive. The tongue is at first of a dark yellow, 
then of a brown or black, color, and finally it 
cracks; the lips turn dark and crack also. The 
evacuations from the bowels and bladder are 
dark and very offensive. As the disease pro¬ 
gresses, purple spots appear on various parts of 
the surface, and the face is of a livid or dark-red 
color. 


Treatment.—T he patient must have an abun- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


271 


dance of pure air, as purification is the principal 
requirement in this form of fever. The sick room 
must be kept quiet. In the early stages, the 
tepid wet-sheet-pack should be given daily, or 
cloths wet in tepid water should be spread over 
all parts of his body and limbs, and changed 
every ten minutes. The feet must be kept warm 
and the head cool, at all times. The danger in 
this disease is from diarrhea and inflammation of 
the bowels; therefore, at the first appearance of 
the disease, a copious enema of warm water 
should be administered, and cool or cold wet 
cloths should be constantly applied to the abdo¬ 
men until all preternatural heat is removed. 
Hot fomentations over the bowels for twenty 
minutes, followed by cold compresses, are very 
useful after the diarrhea has set in. 

In treating this fever, the rules for treating fever 
in general are applicable in all respects other than 
indicated above. The liead-bath should be freely 
used. 

SYMPTOMATIC FEVEBS. 

There are certain diseases, such as inflamma¬ 
tion of the brain, inflammation of the lungs, in¬ 
flammation of the lining membrane of the abdo¬ 
men, etc., in which the inflammation is so great 
as to cause a general fever. In these cases, the 
fever is symptomatic. In treating symptomatic 
fever, wc are to treat the fever with reference to 


972 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


the disease of which it is a symptom, that is, we 
are to treat the fever just as we would if it were 
unattended with any local disease, and was as 
severe as we now find it. Then we are to treat 
the local disease j ust as we would the same affec¬ 
tion if it were unattended with fever. These 
two forms of treatment make up the treatment 
for that special variety of symptomatic fever. 

BRAIN FEVER. 

This fever is known by a variety of names, 
as spotted fever, cerebro-spinal meningitis, cere- 
bro-spinal typhus, malignant purple fever, en¬ 
cephalitis, etc. 

The fever in this case is purely symptomatic, 
as the real difficulty consists in an excessive con¬ 
gestion and inflammation of the brain, or its 
membranes. In most cases, the spinal cord or 
its membranes are involved in the inflammation. 
Under drug treatment, this disease is very likely 
to terminate fatally; but under hygienic treat¬ 
ment, most patients recover. 

Symptoms.— This disease usually manifests it¬ 
self very suddenly, though not always. The indi¬ 
vidual may be apparently well, yet within an hour 
be taken with a severe chill, accompanied by dizzi¬ 
ness, intense headache, and vomiting, quickly fol¬ 
lowed by feverishness, and mental prostration; oft¬ 
en there is delirium. There is extreme depression 
of the physical powers, sharp pains with stiffness 


DISEASES AND TIIE1R TREATMENT. 


273 


of the muscles of the neck and back, and the 
head and neck are drawn backward. The head¬ 
ache becomes incessant and most distressing, the 
countenance, pale, anxious, and pinched; and 
there is restlessness and mental confusion. 

The tongue, pulse, and temperature, may not 
be much changed at this stage, and the bowels 
may be either loose or costive, generally the lat¬ 
ter. As the disease progresses, the pulse becomes 
hard and quick, cramps and spasmodic contrac¬ 
tions of the muscles occur in various parts of the 
body, and the jaws sometimes become locked, the 
patient is disturbed in his sleep, starting up ev¬ 
ery few minutes in a state of wild delirium. About 
the fifth or sixth day, the pulse becomes more 
frequent, the eyes are blooodsliot, the tongue is dry 
and shining, or brown and covered with what ap¬ 
pears to be dirt, an eruption generally appears 
which may vary in form and color. It is this 
eruption that gives the disease the name of spotted 
fever. The patient has less consciousness. A 
heavy stupor sets in, which if deep is very unfa¬ 
vorable; the patient becomes tremulous; the vis¬ 
ion becomes imperfect or fails, in which case the 
pupils are expanded. There is difficulty in swal¬ 
lowing; the fieces and urine may pass involunta¬ 
rily. Of fatal cases, three-fourths die before the 
tenth day, and one-third, within forty-eight hours. 
The most dangerous time is between the second 
and fifth days. 


274 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


With those who survive, the process of recov¬ 
ery is slow, and unless the patient is careful, there 
is danger of a relapse. The severity of this dis¬ 
ease depends wholly on the condition of the pa¬ 
tient. If he is vigorous and not gross, it will he 
light; but if his vitality has become somewhat 
exhausted before the access of the disease, it will 
be' more severe; and if, in connection with this 
weakness, the patient is very gross, it will prob¬ 
ably prove fatal. 

Treatment.— In this disease, there is an ex¬ 
cessive accumulation of blood in the brain and 
spinal cord and their membranes, where it has 
stagnated; and a deficiency of blood in the limbs 
and extremities. Therefore, the hot bath will be 
found serviceable. It should be given as hot as 
the patient can bear, about 102° to 110°, two 
or three times a day. A convenient mode is to 
give a hot siz-bath for ten minutes, followed im¬ 
mediately by a hot pack for thirty or sixty 
minutes, using a thick woolen blanket instead of 
a cotton sheet. The blanket must be applied as 
hot as the patient can bear, and followed by a 
tepid sponge-bath. Two or three times each day, 
early in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, 
apply very hot fomentations, alternated every five 
or eight minutes with ice-cold applications, to the 
spine and head for thirty minutes, always begin¬ 
ning with the hot and ending with the cold; at 
the same time give a hot foot-bath. In mild 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


275 


cases, sitz-batlis and dripping-sheets at a tempera¬ 
ture to suit the feelings of the patient may do, 
hut the hot treatment indicated above is prefer¬ 
able. 

As the patient recovers, the treatment may be 
reduced to a dripping-sheet or a sponge-bath three 
times a week, the diet in the meantime being 
quite light. See Diet for the Sick. 

There are several other forms of symptomatic 
fever, which ovill be noticed in connection with 
the diseases of which they are symptoms. We 
will next notice that class of fevers known as 
eruptive fevers. 

SMALL-POX — VARIOLA. 

The small-pox is a contagious, eruptive fever, 
caused by the reception into the blood of a spe¬ 
cific poison. There are four stages to the disease. 
The first, which is called the period of incubation, 
usually lasts about twelve days. It varies, how¬ 
ever, running from six to twenty days, during 
which time there are no symptoms of indisposi¬ 
tion. Then the disease commences with lassitude, 
headache, pain in the back, vomiting, and shiv¬ 
ering, followed by fever, which is called the pri¬ 
mary fever. 

This constitutes the second stage. About the 
third day of the fever, an eruption makes its ap¬ 
pearance, first on the face, then on the neck and 
wrists, next on the body, and lastly on the lower 


276 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


extremities. It is generally two or three days 

extending over the entire body. Occasionally 

the eruption appears first on the extremities, but 

0 

this is the exception. Sometimes the mucous 
membrane of the mouth and throat is covered 
with the pustules. 

The eruption first appears as minute red points 
which gradually enlarge for about five days, at 
the end of which time they are in the form of a 
hemisphere, resembling a split pea in size and 
shape. Some of them, however, are larger, while 
others are smaller. 

About the third day after the eruption appears, 
the face becomes very much swollen and the 
patient is delirious. The pimples now begin to 
contain a clear, watery fluid which assumes some¬ 
thing of a milky appearance in about two days, 
and which, by the eighth day of the eruption, be¬ 
comes converted into yellow pus. As the pim¬ 
ples enlarge, they are called pustules—from the 
pus they finally contain. Each pustule is sur¬ 
rounded by a highly inflamed red margin about 
the tenth or the eighth of an inch wide. 

At the end of the third stage, or about eight 
days after the eruption appears, the pustules 
break and the pus dries, forming crusts, or scabs, 
which fall off in four or five days more. The 
last period constitutes the fourth stage. 

A secondary fever sets in about the time the 
scabs begin to form, the primary lever bavin** 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


277 


subsided about tlie time the pimples began to fill 
with water. The secondary fever usually subsides 
by the time the scabs fall off. 

When small-pox manifests itself as above de¬ 
scribed, it is said to be of the distinct variety, 
each pustule being by itself. If the patient’s 
blood is very gross at the time he is taken with 
this disease, all the symptoms will be much ag¬ 
gravated as the disease is much more severe, the 
fever is more violent, the eruption comes out ear¬ 
lier, the pimples on the face and on parts of the 
body run together, forming large blisters contain¬ 
ing a brown, watery fluid, while those on the body 
are pale, having no red margin, and no yellow 
pus forms in them. When the pustules break, 
large brown or black scabs are formed. The tongue, 
roof of mouth, inside of nose and throat become 
covered with small pustules. The throat is very 
sore, and there is difficulty in swallowing and in 
breathing. The fever does not fully disappear 
vvlien the eruption comes out. In this case, the 
disease is called Confluent Small-pox. The sec¬ 
ond variety is generally fatal under drug treat¬ 
ment. 

The contagion of small-pox may be communi¬ 
cated at any time after the fever sets in until 
the scabs fall off, and by the dead body as well 
as by the living. 

Treatment. —As soon as it is known that a 

Fam. Phvs. 19 




278 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


person has been exposed to small-pox ho should 
commence treatment, and adopt a hygienic diet. 
See Diet for the Sick. He should be careful not 
to overdo, and should take a tepid bath, either 
the sitz-bath or the dripping-sheet, every alter¬ 
nate day, and he should keep his mind perfectly 
calm. The bowels must be kept free with ene¬ 
mas, if necessary, and, if the weather is suitable, 
he should be much in the open air. As soon as 
he begins to feel symptoms of fever, he should 
take a sweat-batli either the hot sitz, hot-air, or 
vapor-bath. As soon as the sweat starts, he 
should wash ofi with cool water and wipe dry, 
and then retire to bed. There should be no car¬ 
pet on the floor, nor curtains to the bed nor to 
the windows, and the room must be kept well 
ventilated by opening the windows. A draft 
should not strike the patient, however. Light 
and fresh air are very important in this disease. 
Without them the patient must die. 

A hen the hot stage arrives, the patient should 
be frequently bathed in cool water, and a cold, 
wet cloth should be kept on his head. His feet 
must be kept warm. If his bowels are consti¬ 
pated as they generally are—move them once 
a day with a tepid enema. As long as the pre¬ 
ternatural heat keeps up, sponge the body with 
cool water, or apply cool cloths, renewing them 
frequently. Keep the room cold at all times. 
Let the patient drink freely of cool water or 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


27<> 


lemonade. After the pustules begin to dry up 
and the secondary fever sets in, bathe the patient 
with tepid water once a day and sponge the sur¬ 
face occasionally. After the pustules make their 
appearance, it will be necessary to give the pa¬ 
tient nourishing food in small quantities three or 
four times in the day, if he desires it so often, 
but caution must bo used, however, lest the pa¬ 
tient should overeat. He should have gruel or 
porridge made of corn, wheat, or oatmeal, with a 
little milk or cream. Toasted bread, baked ap¬ 
ples, or food similar to the above is admissible. 
Carbolic acid should be sprinkled in the room 
daily. Cleanliness must be observed to insure 
recovery. To prevent the face from pitting, bathe 
it several times a day with sweet oil or glycer¬ 
ine, and admit the sunlight into the room freely; 
but do not let the direct rays strike the patient’s 
face, as it would cause pain in the eyes. When 
the pustules on the face break, flour or powdered 
starch should be sprinkled o\ 7 er it to exclude the 
air and thereby prevent pitting. 

With drug treatment about one in three or 
five die, and sometimes as many as three in 
eight, while with the hygienic treatment not 
more than one in ten or nfteen. In my practice 
under the hygienic system I have lost but one in 
eleven. 

Preventive Measures. —Do not burn the 
clothes, but bury them in dry earth. The earth 


280 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


will absorb tbe poison, but fire will not de¬ 
stroy all of it. Disinfect the room by chlorine 
gas or by the free use of carbolic acid and a free 
circulation of air. 

Those who live strictly hygienically will be 
far less liable to this disease than those who live 
otherwise; and if they have it, it will not prove 
as severe as under other circumstances. Small¬ 
pox usually occurs but once. 

VACCINATION. 

This is performed for the purpose of modify¬ 
ing or preventing small-pox, but it is doubtful 
whether it is of any real benefit. I have treated 
small-pox in families where part of the children 
had been successfully vaccinated two years pre¬ 
vious, and a part had never been vaccinated. In 
these cases I could discern no difference except 
that two of those who were vaccinated had it the 
most severe, while some who had never been 
vaccinated had it very light. The advocates of 
vaccination are agreed that revaccination should 
be resorted to at every appearance of small-pox 
as an epidemic. It is well known that some of 
the most loathsome diseases have been propagated 
by vaccination, and that scrofula has been in¬ 
duced thereby, and even syphilitic diseases have 
been transmitted. I cannot conscientiously ad¬ 
vocate vaccination as practiced generally, neither 
would I oppose vaccination under every circum- 


DISEASES AND TIIEIIl TREATMENT. 


281 


stance. I would say to the reader, if you are 
going to vaccinate yourself or friends, be sure 
you do not introduce other diseases; know where 
the matter used comes from and that it is from a 
young, healthy cow or from the arm of a babe 
that is healthy and whose parents are healthy. 
Owing to the uncertainty of obtaining good ma¬ 
terial I should hesitate before advocating vaccin¬ 
ation. 


CHICKEN-POX-SWmE-POX. 

This disease may be said to consist of an erup¬ 
tion of small rose-colored pimples, which appear 
at the end of twenty-five hours. from the com¬ 
mencement of a mild fever. On the second day 
the pimples arc filled with a transparent or yel¬ 
lowish fluid and are surrounded by slight redness. 
About the fourth day scabs are formed. The 
eruption usually disappears the fifth day. This 
disease is slightly contagious, the period of incu¬ 
bation lasting about four or six days. This dis¬ 
ease usually occurs but once. 

Treatment. — Give a warm enema, and a 
warm bath or wet-sheet-pack daily, and free 
ventilation. 


MEASLES. 

This is a contagious disease that usually occurs 
but once. It is contracted by breathing air con¬ 
taining the p-erms or contagion that have escaped 

O O O 


282 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


from those who have the disease. The period of 
incubation, or the time from exposure till the 
disease appears, is usually from nine to fourteen 
days. 

Symptoms. —The early symptoms consist of las¬ 
situde, shivering, feverishness, catarrh, running 
at the nose, a dry, hacking cough, with hoarseness, 
difficult breathing, and sneezing. Soon there is 
swelling of the eyelids, the eyes become watery, 
and there is intolerance of the light, drowsiness, 
great heat of skin, a frequent and hard pulse. 
Headache and pain in the back frequently occur, 
also nausea, with retching. The eruption appears 
on the fourth day usually, sometimes a day or two 
later. It consists of little dots, and resembles flea 
bites. These gradually run together into small 
blotches, which are semicircular in shape and of a 
red color, and rough to the touch. These points 
do not become pimples, as they contain no fluid. 
The rash appears first on the forehead and ex¬ 
tends downward. It begins to disappear on the 
seventh day. The fever does not abate on ap¬ 
pearance of the rash, as in small-pox. 

With proper treatment, measles is not a dan¬ 
gerous disease, unless the patient’s system is very 
foul, in which case there would be an aggravation 
of all the symptoms, and especially of the chest 
and throat difficulty. The eruption would be of 
a dark color and appear earlier, often receding 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


283 


and re-appearing. The last form is known as 
black measles, or malignant measles. 

Treatment. —In the mild or red form, p'ive 
two or three cool or tepid packs each day until 
the fever subsides. Large wet cloths frequently 
spread over the patient’s body and limbs will an¬ 
swer as well if the fever is slight. Tepid water 
only should be applied after the eruption appears. 

If the eruption is suddenly repelled, a hot pack 
should be given immediately. Free the bowels 
with a warm enema. Keep the room moderately 
warm, but well ventilated. If there is much 
soreness in the throat or much inflammation in 
the lungs, apply hot fomentations over the parts 
twice eaclTday for thirty minutes, alternating the 
hot cloth with a cold one every five minutes. 
The black or malignant variety should be treated 
precisely like putrid fever, which see. 

SCARLET FEVER—SCARLATINA. 

This is a contagious disease which makes its 
appearance in from four to six days after the con¬ 
tagious poison has been received into the system. 
It seldom occurs more than once. 

This fever is attended through some part of its 
course by a rash and by a sore throat, these being 
the two main features of the disease. AVlien the 
rash and the sore throat are both well developed, 
the disease is called scarlatina anginosa. In 
other cases, there is a very marked development 


284 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


of the rash, with but little or no affection of the 
throat, and is known as scarlatina simplex. In 
still other cases, the throat is very seriously af¬ 
fected, when the disease is known as scarlatina 
maligna, and as putrid sore throat. 

Symptoms.— This disease commences the same 
as any ordinary fever, with the exception that 
there is a soreness in the throat, the pulse is fre¬ 
quent, the skin soon becomes hot, and the patient 
finds it difficult to swallow, and is restless and 
wandering at times. The eruption usually ap¬ 
pears on the second day in the form of number¬ 
less bright red points, first on the neck and arms, 
then on the body, and lastly on the legs. The 
eruption may all come out in one day, though it 
is usually two or three days reaching its liight. 
The mucous membrane of the mouth and throat 
becomes inflamed, and, in the malignant form, 
very much ulcerated, or even putrid. The tongue 
is white, with red points projecting through the 
white portion like seeds in a strawberry. The tip 
and edges of the tongue are red. The soreness 
of the throat and stiffness of the neck are about 
the first symptoms. 

In the malignant form, the eruption is dark- 
colored, the pulse is feeble, the skin is cold, and 
the throat extremely sore, the patient being 
scarcely able to breathe. When treated with 
drugs, the disease, especially of the malignant 
form, very often proves fatal; and of those who 


DISEASES ANI) TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


285 


recover, the most are affected for life with some 
chronic difficulty, said to he a sequela of the 
fever, hut in reality of the drugs, for no such 
sequela ever occurs when treated as directed 
here, neither is it a fatal disease in the majority 
of cases. 

Treatment. —In the mild form, this disease 
should he treated according to directions for sim¬ 
ple fever and the treatment of fever in general. 
The throat, however, should he wrapped about 
with a cold compress, using ice in the water, 
if it can he obtained. In the malignant form, 
if the fever is high, the cool pack or cool bath 
should he constantly applied until the heat is 
reduced, or it may be reduced by applying warm 
or even hot applications, as the water evaporates 
more rapidly. The feet must he kept warm at 
all times. The hot hath at 105° may he given 
two or three times a day for fifteen or twenty 
minutes at a time at the commencement of the 
disease. Very hot fomentations, alternated every 
five minutes with ice-cold compresses should he 
applied to the throat every hour for a half hour 
at a time, with ice water to the throat at all oth¬ 
er times, until the fever is subdued and the sore¬ 
ness in the throat is relieved. Ice may he eaten 
and sips of ice water taken freely. In other 
respects, treat simple scarlatina as simple fever, 
and malignant scarlatina as putrid fever. 


236 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ERYSIPELAS. 

There are two varieties of this disease, the red 
and the black, the former occurring in persons 
whose habits are not gross, the latter, in those 
who live grossly and whose blood and flesh are 
filled with impurities. 

No part of the surface of the body is exempt 
from this affection, but the skin of the head and 
face are most subject to it. In cases which arise 
from wounds, the erysipelas commences at or 
around the seat of the injury. 

Symptoms. —This disease is ushered in with 
the symptoms of an ordinary fever, sore throat 
being an early and frequent accompaniment of it. 
On the second or third morning after the chill, 
redness and swelling appear on some part of the 
skin, frequently on one side of the nose, spread¬ 
ing to the rest of the face, and often extending 
over the scalp, neck, and shoulders. The face 
soon becomes so swollen that the eyes close, and 
all traces of the natural features are lost. There 
is more or less general fever, with excessive heat 
in the inflamed part. 

In the red or mild variety, the inflamed part is 
of a florid or bright-red color, while in the black 
or putrid variety, it is of a livid or dark bluish- 
red color. 

Treatment. —Give the patient two or three 
warm or tepid packs daily until the heat is re- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


287 


duced. The bowels should be freed at the outset 
of the disease by a warm enema. The patient 
should be allowed to drink freely of cold water, 
and must occupy a well-ventilated room. 

Hot fomentations, alternated with cold com¬ 
presses every five or eight minutes, should be ap¬ 
plied for thirty minutes to the swollen parts 
three or four times each day. In the putrid 
form, tepid wet clothes, or tepid spongings, may 
be applied to the body constantly until the fever 
is reduced, instead of so many packs. For diet, 
see Diet for the Sick. 

NEURALGIA. 

Persons affected with chronic disease, especial¬ 
ly dyspepsia, are liable to have pain in the nerves, 
yet the disease that occasions the pain may be 
remote from the seat of the pain. Facial neural¬ 
gia, is generally occasioned by decayed teeth, 
which should be removed. 

Neuralgia in the abdomen or loins is generally 
occasioned by inflammation or displacement of the 
pelvic organs. 

Sciatica very often results from pressure upon 
some part of the nerve, such as is produced by 
accumulation of hardened faeces within the lower 
bowel, or from inflammation of the sheath of the 
nerve, or from overwork, exposure to cold and 
wet, and occasionally from rheumatism. 

Treatment. —When the neuralgic pains are 


288 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


severe, a hot fomentation should be applied to 
the part for a few minutes, after which, it should 
be alternated with the cold compress every eight 
minutes for a half hour. 

In treating sciatica, the hot sitz-batli or hot 
fomentations, followed by cold compresses or the 
cold douche to the part, will give relief. Drip¬ 
ping-sheets, spray-baths, or the hose-douche are 
all applicable. In all neuralgic affections the gen¬ 
eral health must be attended to, and every local 
difficulty remedied by proper treatment. 

LOCAL DISEASES. 

Under this head will be presented those dis¬ 
eases whose primary seat is in some special organ 
or part of the body. These diseases may be 
either acute or chronic. In the acute form, the- 
disease is rapid and the symptoms prominent. 
In the chronic form, the disease is of the same 
nature as in the acute, but it develops itself much 
more slowly and its symptoms are much less 
marked. 

If it were possible to gather all of the symp¬ 
toms, pains, and aches, which occur in a few 
months in a chronic disease, and condense them, 
we would find fhem equal in amount and sever¬ 
ity to those that would occur in a few days in 
the acute form of the disease. 

In treating acute diseases, we should be prompt 
and energetic in adopting measures that will give 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


289 


immediate relief and check the violence of the 
disease. But in treating chronic diseases, great 
perseverance will be required, as the treatment, 
to be successful, has to be directed to equalizing 
the circulation, relieving internal congestion, 
forming new habits, and, as it were, building the 
body anew; and all of this requires time. As a 
general rule, there is no difficulty in treating 
acute diseases successfully at home; the patient, 
being: unable to work or have care, dismisses all 

o 

business but that of getting well, consequently 
receives the full benefit of the treatment. 

In chronic difficulties, the case is different. 
The patient is able to do some work, and seeing 
enough to be done, either works so much that 
the treatment does no good, or worries because 
the work is improperly done by others, or because 
it is neglected. The result is the same in eithei 
case, as the patient can derive little or no benefit 
from treatment taken under such circumstances. 

Such being the facts, the very best thing any 
chronic invalid can do will be to go to a hygienic 
institute and take treatment for a while. In 
most cases, three or four months stay at a good 
health institution will be sufficient to effect a cure. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BHAIN. 

In this disease, the membranes only may be in¬ 
flamed, which is generally the case, or the sub¬ 
stance of the brain only, or both. So far as treat- 


290 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ment is concerned, it matters not which part is 
inflamed, for the treatment is the same in either 
case. 

This disease is essentially the same as that al¬ 
ready described as brain fever, the only difference 
being that in this there is less inflammation and 
less fever, consequently the symptoms are less 
violent. 

Treatment. —See Brain Fever, and treat as 
there directed. 

C-0ITC4ESTT0N OF THE BRAIN. 

This may be acute or chronic. It consists in a 
rush of blood to the various organs within the 
skull. It is always accompanied with a sense of 
fullness and pain. If unattended to, the conges¬ 
tion may lead to serious consequences, such as a 
leakage of the watery portion of the blood from 
the small blood-vessels and capillaries, thereby 
causing dropsy of the brain—hydrocephalus. Or 
it may lead to brain fever or apoplexy, by the 
leakage of blood. 

Cause. —Congestion of the brain may be caused 
by anything that unbalances the circulation, 
such as exposure to sudden heat or cold, improper 
food, impure air, cold feet, constipated bowels, an 
overloaded stomach, undigested food retained in 
the stomach, or by prolonged brain labor. 

Treatment.— Remove the cause, if in the stom¬ 
ach, by warm-water emetics; if in the bowels, by 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


291 


enemas; if it is caused by excessive or prolonged 
mental labor, take exercise in the open air. If 
caused by a recent cold, take a hot sitz and foot¬ 
bath, followed by a dripping-sheet. If the disease 
has become chronic, take a warm sitz and foot¬ 
bath daily or every other day, for live or eight 
minutes, at 92° or 95°, then cool the water to 80° 
and continue the bath for three minutes. Wet the 
head with cold water before taking the bath. In 
many cases, hot fomentations applied to the head 
and alternated with cold every five or eight min¬ 
utes, for a half hour, will give relief. 

DROPSY OP THE HEAD—HYDRO¬ 
CEPHALUS. 

This is a slow inflammation of the membranes 
of the brain in which water is thrown out into 
the ventricles—cavities—of the brain, and imo 
the spaces between its convolutions or folds. 
The head frequently becomes enormously large, 
the bones separating to make room for the en¬ 
largement. It is a disease of childhood. 

Symptoms. —Sometimes this disease exists at 
birth; if not, the symptoms will be manifest 
about the sixth month. The child may take its 
food regularly, yet it does not thrive, and in a 
few weeks after the dropsy sets in its body is 
much wasted, the head appears large, the face 
small, the forehead prominent and heavy, the 
eyes protrude and are directed downward, flhe 
child is irritable and feverish, and manifests a 



292 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


dislike to light and noise. It has headache and 
nausea, and its faeces are dark-colored and offen¬ 
sive, and it has frequent pain in the abdomen. 

Treatment. —Nothing can save the child un¬ 
less the disease is detected early, and the treat¬ 
ment commenced immediately. Keep the bowels 
free with enemas, and by frequently rubbing and 
kneading them. Give a tepid sponge-bath daily; 
keep the room well ventilated, and give the child 
a nourishing diet. Apply cool water to the head 
daily by pouring it from a pitcher or by bathing 
it with a sponge. Keep the extremities always 
warm. Let the child sleep soundly at night. 

APOPLEXY. 

This word signifies a fit of sudden insensibil¬ 
ity. There is a complete loss, for the time, of all 
consciousness and sensation, and all power of 
voluntary motion. 

Causes.— AVhatever induces congestion of the 
brain may cause it, for the insensibility is caused 
by pressure on the brain. Intoxicating liquors, 
tobacco, opium, great heat or cold, sudden excite¬ 
ment, blows or injuries on the head—any of these 
may occasion the disease, especially if the person 
is plethoric or full-blooded, such persons being 
peculiarly liable to it. This disease resembles 
drunkenness and narcotic poisoning. In drunk¬ 
enness, the smell of alcohol is always present, and 
it may be in apoplexy if the patient indulges in 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


293 


its use. The habits of the patient, if known, as 
they certainly will be in the home circle, will as¬ 
sist in making out the character of the disease. 

Treatment Preventive.— A person who has 
a tendency to apoplexy must avoid all excite¬ 
ment and over-exertion, all stimulating sub¬ 
stances, extremes of temperature, straining at 
stool, tight neck-ties, and hot baths. He must 
partake of food sparingly, sleep on a mattress 
with the head elevated, and in a cool and well- 
ventilated room. lie should take moderate ex¬ 
ercise daily in the open air, and should keep his 
bowels free. The head should be bathed daily 
with cool or cold water. When dizziness, head¬ 
ache, throbbing of the temples, or nose-bleed oc¬ 
curs, he should abstain from food for one or two 
meals. Such are preventive measures. 

Treatment Curative. —As soon as the fit oc¬ 
curs, place the patient in a sitting posture, loosen 
all the garments about the neck and chest; place 
hot wet blankets about the feet, limbs, and abdo¬ 
men, and renew the heat frequently; place 
pounded ice in a bladder or a bag on the head, 
or pour cold water on the head for twenty min¬ 
utes several times a day, until consciousness re¬ 
turns. 

SUH- STROKE. 

This disease is similar to apoplexy. It usually 
follows exposure to the direct rays of the sun in 
a hot day. Fam - rhy9 - 



294 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


Symptoms. —Faintness, thirst, great heat, dry¬ 
ness of the skin, with prostration. Dizziness is 
frequently complained of, also a sense of tight¬ 
ness across the chest. The action of the heart 
soon becomes violent, and the patient sinks into 
a state of insensibility. 

Treatment.—T he same as in apoplexy. 

INSANITY. 

This disease is one of the most distressing to 
contemplate of any to which flesh is heir. It is 
unnecessary to enter into a detailed account of 
the many varieties or modifications of the dis¬ 
ease. It consists in a functional or organic dis¬ 
ease of the gray matter of the brain, which man¬ 
ifests itself in a derangement of the mental func- 
tions, so that the patient perceives and thinks un¬ 
reasonably. The disease may exist in any de¬ 
gree of intensity from a very slight departure 
from sanity to total aberration of all the percep¬ 
tive and intellectual faculties. 

Treatment.— This disease should be treated 
early to insure the recovery of the patient. 

The patient should have a diet of the best 
and most wholesome articles of food in good va- 
riety. He should not be crossed in his whims, 
nor contended with, neither should he be con¬ 
fined, nor should mechanical or physical force be 
used unless he be violent or dangerous. On the 
contrary, he should be humored when not incom- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


295 


patible with moral principle. He. should have 
warm clothing, out-door occupation, amuse¬ 
ments, sound sleep at night, and his bowels 
should be kept free. Attention should be paid 
to prevent the exercise of bad habits, secret vice, 
etc. A constant effort should be made to pro¬ 
mote cheerfulness. The warm bath in any form 
should be given two or three times a week; fol¬ 
lowed by the cold douche or cold dripping-sheet. 
If the patient is weak, give a tepid bath, followed 
by a cool douche. If the patient is strong, he 
may take a hot-air or vapor-bath once a week in 
addition to the above. The cool or cold head- 
bath should be taken daily, and the feet should 
be always warm. Occasional wet-sheet-packs in 
place of any of the above baths would be service¬ 
able. In many of the States, the public asylums 
are so conducted that those who cafmot be re¬ 
strained at home would fare better, and have a 
better chance to recover there, than if treated at 
home. 


HEADACHE. 

This may be caused by inflammation of the 
brain or its membranes (see under head of Brain 
Fever, and Inflammation of the Brain), or it may 
be caused by plethora (see Plethora), or by errors 
in diet, or the use of tea, coffee, tobacco, and stim¬ 
ulating drinks, or by hunger, or constipation. 

Treatment.— Remove the cause, correct the 


290 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


habits, and treat as directed for chronic conges¬ 
tion of the brain. 

VERTIGO, OR DIZZINESS. 

In advanced life, this difficulty, if frequent, is 
symptomatic of disease of the brain in its first 
stages. It may, however, be caused by poison in 
the system, such as tobacco, alcoholic liquors, 
opium, or by some irritation of the stomach, or 
of the intestines, or some disturbance of the liver, 
or kidneys, or of the heart, or, in women, by 
uterine hemorrhage. It is also caused by sexual 
excesses. 

Treatment. —This will depend somewhat on 
the cause, which must be ascertained and re¬ 
moved if possible. If it is caused by any wrong 
habit, that habit must be corrected. The cause 
is some local disease, such as disease of the liver, 
etc. Treat the local disease as directed under 
proper heading. The general treatment is the 
same as for headache and congestion of the brain, 
which see. 

ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF TITE EAR. 

Symptoms. —Heat, pain, and irritation of the 
external ear, if that is the inflamed part. 

Treatment. —Hot fomentations, followed by a 
cold compress, and a hot sitz-bath and foot-bath 
followed by a cool bath in connection with the 
fomentation. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


297 


If the internal ear is inflamed, there will be a 
distressing sense of fullness, painful throbbing, 
general nervousness, and deep-seated pain; loud 
noises are heard at times. If the inflammation 
is not checked, the eyes become red, delirium sets 
in, followed by fever of typhoid character; sup¬ 
puration soon follows, which usually destroys the 
hearing. 

O 

Treatment.— The same as above, and in addi¬ 
tion, the patient should fast for a short time, and 
the cold liead-batli should be freely used, until 
the heat in the head is subdued. The accompa¬ 
nying fever should be treated as directed in Gen¬ 
eral Treatment of Fever. 

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE EAR. 

Symptoms.— A prolonged discharge from the 
ear. 

Cause.— Scrofula, maltreated eruptive fever of 
any kind, etc. 

Treatment.— In treating all forms of foul dis¬ 
charges from the ears, first attend to the general 
health. The food must be free from all grease, 
butter, salt, vinegar, and condiments of all kinds. 
It should be composed of a good variety of fruits, 
grains, and vegetables, cooked in the most whole¬ 
some manner. Derivative and tonic baths should 
be administered three times a week. These 
should consist of the dripping-sheet, the half-bath, 
or sitz-bath, or the spray-bath, or packs. The 


298 


HYGIENIC FAMILY TIIYSICIAN. 


patient’s body should be daily rubbed with the 
dry hand. 

EARACHE. 

This difficulty may be caused by inflammation, 
or by insects or some foreign substance within the 
ear, or it may be a nervous affection. 

Treatment.— Foreign substances may be re¬ 
moved from the ear by holding the head in such 
a position that the affected ear is downward, then 
with a small syringe inject warm water into the 
ear. In other cases, it may be necessary to re¬ 
move the substance with forceps. Vermin or in¬ 
sects in the ear may be destroyed by introducing 
soap suds containing a drop of carbolic acid to a 
table spoonful of water, or the ear may be filled 
with sweet oil, and the vermin will slip out. If 
the pain continues, give either the sitz-bath, the 
hot-air-batli or vapor-bath, and a hot fomentation 
over the ear. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES. 

The eyes are subject to a variety of diseases, 
most of which may be comprehended in the word 
inflammation. This may be acute or chronic. 
This inflammation may result in granulated lids, 
purulent discharges, specks and opacities, ulcers, 
tumors, and partial or total blindness. 

Treatment.— In acute inflammation, keep the 
eye shaded from the light, but allow it a free cir- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


209 


dilation of air. Apply fomentations, followed by 
cold compresses once a day, and frequent cold 
applications daily or until the inflammation is sub¬ 
dued. Treat the attending fever the same as fevers 
in general. Keep the feet warm. In the chronic 
form, treat the patient constitutionally. See Con¬ 
stitutional Treatment. Bathe the eyes frequent¬ 
ly in tepid water, and once or twice a week ap¬ 
ply hot fomentations alternated with cold. See 
Fomentation. There may be cases in which it 
may be necessary to remove the granulations with 
caustics, but this should be avoided if possible, 
and should only be done by an oculist. If hairs 
growing inward cause the inflammation, they 
must be extracted. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE MEMBRAXTES 
OF THE SPIXIAL CORD. 

Acute inflammation of the membranes of the 
spinal cord seldom occurs ; but when it does, it 
may be known by an acute burning pain along 
the spine extending into the limbs. This pain is 
similar to rheumatism, and is aggravated by mo¬ 
tion or pressure. There is always a high fever, 
with sleeplessness. After a little, the muscles of 
the neck and back become permanently con¬ 
tracted. 

Treatment. —Apply heat and cold alternately 
to the spine as in giving fomentations, and treat 
the fever as directed for fevers in general. 


300 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


INFLAMMATION OF THE SPINAL 
MARROW. 

When the spinal marrow becomes inflamed, 
some form of paralysis follows. If the upper 
part of that portion within the skull is inflamed, 
there is deep-seated headache, convulsive move¬ 
ments of the head and face, inarticulate speech, 
spasmodic closure of the mouth, difficulty in swal¬ 
lowing, spasmodic breathing, and paralysis of one 
side of the body, or of the upper half of one side. 
When the inflammation is in that portion of the 
spinal cord that is within the neck, there will be 
acute pain in the back of the neck, shortness of 
breath, difficulty in swallowing, impossibility of 
raising or supporting the head, a prickling sensa¬ 
tion in the hands, and paralysis of the upper ex¬ 
tremities. 

When that portion of the cord within the up¬ 
per portion of the back above the attachment of 
the lowest ribs, is inflamed, there is pain in that 
portion, and numbness or prickling sensations in 
the fingers and toes, convulsive movements of the 
trunk of the body with paralysis of the arms and 
lower extremities, short and laborious respira¬ 
tion, palpitation, etc. 

If the inflammation is in that portion within 
the small of the back, there is pain there, and also 
in the abdomen, with a sense of tightness as of a 
cord drawn tightly around it. There will be 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


301 


convulsive spasms, or paralysis of the bladder 
and lower bowel, causing retention of urine and 
faeces at times, or they will be voided involunta¬ 
rily. There is also severe paralysis of the lower 
extremities. The pain in the affected part of the 
cord in this disease is less severe than in inflam¬ 
mation of the membranes of the cord. The pain 
is increased by the application of heat to the 
part and by firm pressure. The loss of sensation 
in the palsied limbs is complete. 

Treatment. —Apply ice water or ice to the 
spine, or, if the severity of the pain will permit, 
apply hot fomentations alternated with ice-cold 
compresses. Pounded ice in a bladder is the best 
way to apply cold to the spine, unless rubber 
bags can be procured. Give hot foot and leg 
baths to draw the blood to those parts, and treat 
the fever, if there is any, the same as though it 
were the only disease. This disease is usually 
caused by exposure to cold or damp, or by 
wounds and bruises. A slight degree of inflam¬ 
mation, or se\ 7 ere inflammation in a small part of 
the cord may arise from a sudden jar of the cord, 
produced by a fall, or by jumping. Whenever 
from any cause the spinal cord gives evidence of 
injury by severe or heavy pain in the cord that 
is caused by wounds or jars, the patient should 
immediately retire and apply a hot fomentation 
for ten minutes followed by cold applications 
for twenty or thirty minutes. He should then 


302 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


take a warm half-bath daily and keep the feet 
warm. 


PARALYSIS. 

This may be confined to a single set of mus¬ 
cles, or it may extend to a part of the body, or 
to one-lialf of it, or even to the entire body. 

The paralysis is symptomatic of some difficul¬ 
ty with the spinal cord, or brain, or both. As 
already shown, inflammation of the cord or brain 
may occasion paralysis, so also may lack of blood 
or nourishment in the cord. 

Treatment.— In recent cases, if the paralysis 
is caused by inflammation of the cord, treat as 
directed under head of Inflammation of Spinal 
Cord. In paralysis that has come on slowly, or 
that is of long standing, give the patient nourish¬ 
ing diet, airy bedroom, plenty of sunshine or sun¬ 
baths, and give the Swedish movements, which 
consist in passing the limb or body through all 
its natural motions, and in kneading and rolling 
the flesh under the hand, percussing it with 
the edges of the hand, or slapping it with the 
flat of the hand. Electric-baths, shower-baths, 
diipping-sheets, spray-baths and cool sponge- 
baths, may any of them be used three times a 
week. The surface and extremities must always 
be kept warm. 

All paialytic patients should resort to a first- 
class health institute, such as the one in Battle 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


303 


Creek, Michigan, as soon as they are paralyzed. 
Only about one in five can he cured under any 
system of treatment. 

CONVULSIONS. 

Convulsions are symptomatic of disease of the 
brain, spinal cord, and nerve centers. The real 
disease may be any condition which suddenly ar¬ 
rests the nutrition of the brain, cord, or nerve cen¬ 
ters, such as hemorrhage within the skull or spi¬ 
nal column, a blow on the head, loss of blood, a 
stoppage of the circulation of the blood, strangu¬ 
lation, or want of air to purify the blood, impure 
blood, a needle or pin pricking the flesh, the 
presence of indigestible food in the stomach, 
worms in the intestines, teething in children, or 
a continued diarrhea. 

Treatment.— To brine: the child out of the 
spasm, set it in a shallow cool or tepid bath, and 
with the hand apply cold water to the spine, or 
set it in a cold bath and apply cold to the spine. 
If undigested food in the stomach is the cause 
of the convulsions, give a warm-water emetic. 
If worms are the cause, give a more whole¬ 
some diet. If the patient is an infant, the diet 
should be as directed in Diet for Infants, in Part 
I. Free the bowels from worms (see under 
head of Worms), and then treat as directed un¬ 
der head of Constitutional Treatment. If the 
convulsions are caused by teething, give the 


304 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


child something hard to bite, like an ivory or 
rubber ring, and treat constitutionally. 

The garments should always be loosened and 
all the clothing about the neck removed as soon 
as the convulsion comes on. When it cannot be 
definitely ascertained of what disease the convul¬ 
sion is a symptom, it may be taken for granted 
that the constitutional vigor of the person is at 
fault, and the treatment should be constitutional 
as above directed. 

EPILEPSY. 

The causes of this disease are nearly the same 
as the preceding. We might add, however, the 
following: defective organization, a malformed 
head, injury of the head, debauchery and drunk¬ 
enness, sexual excesses, and the poisoning of the 
blood by medicines given in treating acute rheu¬ 
matism, scarlet fever, and various other diseases 
allopathically. 

Treatment.— During the fit, lay the patient 
on the floor, and loosen the clothing about the 
throat. Nothing more is required. After the 
spasms have ceased, let the patient sleep as long 
as he is inclined to. During the interval, the 
patient must have constitutional treatment. See 
Constitutional Treatment. 


DISEASES AND TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


305 


HYSTERIA. 

This disease is caused by anything that im¬ 
pairs the nervous organism. It occurs in both 
males and females, but most frequently in females, 
beginning at, or soon after, puberty, and in many 
cases continuing through life. The chief cause of 
hysteria is vacancy of mind, that is, want of oc¬ 
cupation. Those persons who have an object in 
life, something to accomplish, are generally too 
much occupied to have hysteric fits, while those 
who have nothing to do or to think of except 
self, soon induce a morbid condition of mind that 
manifests itself in hysteria. 

Symptoms. —Convulsive movement of the body 
and limbs, violent beating of the breasts, tearing 
the hair or garments, violent agitation, shrieks, 
and a sensation as of a ball rising upward from 
some part of the body to the throat, causing suf¬ 
focation and convulsions. The attack ends with 
tears or convulsive outbreaks of crying or laugh¬ 
ter. This disease does not always manifest the 
same symptoms. 

Treatment. —To bring the patient out of the 
fit, apply cold water to the head and spine. To 
prevent the return of the fit, keep the patient’s 
mind so occupied that self will be forgotten. 
Give constitutional treatment. 





306 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


SLEEPLESSNESS. 

Sleeplessness is simply over-activity of the 
brain. Wakefulness or disturbed slumber may 
be caused by care, trouble, overwork, late suppers, 
indigestible food, reading or hearing exciting sto¬ 
ries, especially in the evening, and by occupying 
the mind with business matters in the evening 
or latter part of the day. 

Treatment. —Eat no hearty meal in the after 
part of the day, neither read nor allow the mind 
to become excited, nor contemplate any sad or 
melancholy theme, nor transact or think about 
any business in the latter part of the day or eve¬ 
ning. Retire to rest at a regular hour, in a quiet 
and well-ventilated room. Do not sleep on 
feathers, but use a mattress instead. Do not sleep 
under too many bedclothes, and have no curtains 
about the bed. In the evening, take a bath for 
three or five minutes at from 92° to 98°; wipe 
dry, and retire immediately. Or take a tepid 
sponge-bath, or a warm foot-bath, or place a bot¬ 
tle of hot water to the feet on retiring. Any¬ 
thing that will draw the blood away from the 
brain will induce sleep, therefore a cold, wet 
head-cap is useful, especially if the head aches. 

A sitz-bath at 98° or 100°, for ten minutes, just 
before retiring, or a hot fomentation applied the 
entire length of the spine, for fifteen minutes, 
will often induce sleep. In case the patient is 


DISEASES AND TIIEIIl TREATMENT. 


307 


dyspeptic and is kept awake by indigestion, ap¬ 
ply the hot fomentations over the stomach for a 
few minutes after retiring. 

CATARRH. 

This disease consists of an inflammation of the 
air passages. It may be confined to the nostrils 
and cavities connecting with them, or to the wind¬ 
pipe, or it may extend down into the smaller air 
tubes in the lungs. This disease is more common 
than any other. It arises from too sudden change 
of atmospheric temperature, or from exposure to 
wet and cold when the strength is exhausted. 
Catarrh is simply a common cold. It may be 
acute or chronic. If acute, there will be a run¬ 
ning at the nose, and if the windpipe is impli¬ 
cated, there will be more or less irritation or sore¬ 
ness in the inflamed part of the windpipe, and a 
cough more or less violent. 

In chronic catarrh of the head, the fluids that 
are thrown out are quite thick and viscid, and of 
a yellow or greenish color. This dries in the 
nostrils, or passes backward into the throat, or 
both of these events may occur. 

Treatment. —If the catarrh is recent, take any 
form of a hot bath once or twice a ciay, and ab¬ 
stain from food for one or two meals, or eat very 
sparingly for a few days. In the chronic form, 
live on a strictly hygienic diet, eat two meals a 



308 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


day regularly, and no more, and follow the di¬ 
rections given for constitutional treatment. 


INFLUENZA. 

This disease differs from catarrh only in being 
more severe and in being epidemic. 

Symptoms. —Heat, and dryness of the skin, se¬ 
vere frontal headache, a constant running at the 
nose, sneezing, soreness in back part of the mouth 
—the fauces—hoarseness, a harrassing cough, per¬ 
verted taste, and disordered stomach. 

Treatment. —Give any form of a hot bath, 
followed by a cool bath; or give a hot wet 
woolen sheet pack, or a hot half-pack once a day, 
with cold applications to the chest and throat at 
all other times, or a warm sitz and foot-bath may 
be given daily with a hot fomentation, for twenty 
minutes, followed with cold over the chest and 
throat until the severity of the symptoms is 
over. 


DISEASES OF THE MOUTH. 

Inflammation of the Tongue seldom occurs ex¬ 
cept as a result of taking mercury. Whenever 
the tongue is inflamed, apply ice to it, and give 
warm sitz and foot-baths freely. If suppuration 
occurs, open the abscess with a sharp knife or 
lancet. 

Ulcers of the Tongue. Treat these by a 
caicful and abstemious diet, free from all grease 




DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


309 


and condiments. Use gargles of borax, or cover, 
the ulcers with borax and glycerine, or touch 
them with sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), or 
sulphate of zinc (white vitriol). Gargle hot 
and cold water alternately, and take a warm 
bath daily. 

Canker of the Mouth. Treat the same as 
ulcers. 

Thrush. This disease consists of small, round, 
white, elevated specks or patches scattered over 
the tongue and lining membrane of the mouth. 
It often extends down the oesophagus, or meat- 
pipe, into the stomach, in infants. The treatment 
of thrush should be a tepid bath three times a 
week, tepid injections to free the bowels if they 
are hard or swollen, and small cool injections 
daily, and the cool abdominal girdle may be worn 
if there is a diarrhea. Feed infants as directed 
in Part I. 

Decayed Teeth. Have these filled with metal 
without delay. Patronize none but responsible 
dentists, if you wish the work well done. To 
prevent decay and preserve your teeth, use no 
hot food, or hot drinks, and eat no ice-creams or 
other frozen food. Use graham bread and crack¬ 
ers. The more hard food there is eaten, the 
harder and stronger the teeth will become. The 
food should be thoroughly masticated. 

Toothache. The hot foot-bath or sitz-bath will 

21 


Fain rhys 


310 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


often give relief. Sometimes it is necessary to 
apply hot fomentations to the face and the teeth- 
The hot-air cr vapor-bath will give relief. 

M UIPS. 

This disease consists in an inflammation of the 
parotid glands. These glands are situated on 
either side of the head, immediately in front of, 
and below, the ear. 

Symptoms. —At first, there is a slight disturb¬ 
ance, as though a very mild fever was about to 
set in. This is accompanied by soreness and 
swelling of one or both of these glands. The 
swelling usually extends from beneath the ear, 
along the neck, to the chin. The submaxillary 
glands—situated under the lower jaw just in 
front of the angle of the jaw—also become in¬ 
flamed and swollen. The inflammation reaches 
its hight in four days. As the inflammation sub¬ 
sides, it is not uncommon for the mammary 
glands the breasts—or the testicles to become 
painful and swollen. 

Treatment. —All that is required is a spare 
diet, with an occasional tepid or warm bath. 
The dripping-sheet, sitz-bath, spray-bath, half or 
full bath, or the wet-sheet-pack, may any of them 
be given. If the throat is very painful, hot fo¬ 
mentations alternated with cold compresses every 
five or eight minutes for thirty minutes should be 
applied. Hot poultices will often give relief. If 


DISEASES AND TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


311 


inflammation of the breasts or of the testicles oc¬ 
cur, treat in the same manner. 

DISEASES OP THE THROAT. 

Inflammation of the Tonsils. This difficulty 
is known as quinsy and tonsilitis. It is common 
inflammatory sore throat. It is ushered in by 
chilliness, followed by fever. The upper part of 
the throat will be red and swollen, the sides of 
the entrance to the throat being very much 
swollen and frequently ulcerated. In some cases, 
the fever is very high, the tongue coated, and 
there is an abundant discharge of sticky saliva. 
If the inflammation is long continued, one or 
both of the tonsils—two glands situated on either 
side of the entrance to the throat—suppurate. 
They should then be lanced. 

Treatment. —Free the bowels with an enema 
of warm water, and give a tepid pack for a half 
hour. 

If the fever is high, treat as directed for simple 
fever. The special local treatment consists in the 
frequent application of ice-cold water to the 
throat inside and out, with a hot fomentation 
once or twice a day, followed by the immediate 
application of cold water. The hot foot-bath will 
give relief. 

Diptheria. This disease frequently commences 
very gradually. The patient is depressed, weak, 
has headache, nausea, slight diarrhea, and drowsi- 




312 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ness. The neck is stiff for several hours before 
the throat becomes sore. Then the tonsils and 
inside of throat become inflamed and of a dark 
color. The palate becomes so swollen that the 
patient cannot swallow without pain. There is 
next seen on the mucous membrane of the nar¬ 
row parts of the upper portion of the throat, ash- 
colored specks which gradually enlarge and join 
together, forming a false membrane known as the 
dip there tic membrane. This membrane thickens 
as the disease progresses. Death may occur from 
hemorrhage, suffocation, or exhaustion. 

Treatment. —The patient should at the outset 
of the disease be placed in a hot sitz and foot¬ 
bath, with hot fomentations to the throat at the 
same time. Ice or ice water should at all other 
times be constantly applied to the throat exter¬ 
nally, and sips of ice water containing bits of ice 
should be taken every few minutes. When ice 
can be held in the back part of the mouth, it is 
proper to do so. The hot bath should be Riven 
twice a day, and the ice applied constantly until 
the soreness leaves the throat. Treat the fever 
by giving two or three tepid packs a day for 
ten or fifteen minutes. 

CROUP. 

This disease, which results from a cold, is one 
to which infants and small children are subject. 
It consists in an inflammation of the windpipe, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


313 


and the formation thereby of a peculiar mem¬ 
brane which, in fatal cases, sloughs off and suffo¬ 
cates the child. 

Symptoms. —At first, the child has ringing 
cough, such as accompanies a common cold. In 
a few hours there is a shrill whistling or crowing 
sound produced as the child draws in its breath 
after a spasmodic effort at coughing. If the in¬ 
flammation is not speedily checked, the child 
dies of suffocation. Apply cold compresses to 
the throat, using ice or ice water if it can be had 
without delay. If this is not successful, the 
child should be placed in a bath as hot as can 
be borne, and remain for from five to fifteen 
minutes according to its condition. On leav¬ 
ing the bath, ice, or ice water or cold watci 
should be again applied to its throat continu¬ 
ously. Its feet and legs must be kept warm and 
its head cool. If the cold application does not 
check the difficulty in the course of an hour, ap¬ 
ply the hot fomentation to the tmoat foi ten 
minutes, then cold for five minutes. Repeat the 
process two or three times. 

CHOKING. 

This is frequently caused by the lodgement of 
food or other substances within the meatpipe 
the oesophagus. If the mouth is opened widely 
and the tongue extended, the substance can gen¬ 
erally be seen lodged above the glottis. It may 



314 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


be removed with pinchers, or with a hook, or it 
may be pried out of its place with the handle of 
a spoon or a similar instrument. Failing to do 
this, if the patient is suffocating, the substance 
may be pushed down into the stomach with a 
smooth, round-ended rod or whalebone. If the 
foreign substance has been inhaled, and is lodged 
within the air passages, there will be at first a 
violent spasmodic cough, difficult breathing, and 
a sense of impending suffocation. After a few 
minutes, the violence of the first symptoms 
abates for a time. The cough and difficulty of 
breathing return at intervals however. 

Treatment. —When the substance is lodged 
in the upper part of the throat, and while the 
coughing continues, the clogging substance may 
often be removed by turning the head down and 
the feet up, and percussing the back. If it is 
within the windpipe, send for a good surgeon, 
who Will remove it with the knife, if necessary. 

GOITER. 

This is simply an enlargement of the thyroid 
gland, which becomes, in some instances, so en¬ 
larged as to cause the neck to measure upward 
of two feet in circumference. The swelling is 
usually unaccompanied with pain, and causes little 
inconvenience. In some cases, however, the press- 
uie on the veins, arteries, and other organs of the 
neck, causes uncomfortable sensations. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


315 


This disease is caused by drinking liard water 
or water containing lime, magnesia, or other 
earthy substances, and by breathing impure air, 
living in the shade, and other unhygienic habits. 

Treatment.—T he first thing to be done in 
treating this difficulty is to supply the patient 
with pure soft Avater to drink (filtered rain Avater 
is the best), and a plain, nourishing diet, free from 
flesh-meats and grease, and let him be much in 
the open air and sunshine. The cold compress, 
or hose-douche, or cold Avater poured from a 
pitcher, should be applied daily to the part, also 
cold Avet-liand rubbing over the tumor. The 
prolonged, tepid sitz-batli should be taken every 
other day. Ice applied for fifteen minutes every 
one or tAvo hours, with a spare diet, Avill promote 
absorption. 

CLERGYMAN’S SORE THROAT. 

This is a slightly inflamed condition of the 
mucous membrane of the fauces, glottis, and A r o- 
cal cords. 

Symptoms. —An uneasy sensation in the upper 
part of the throat, Avitli a continued inclination 
to swalkyw, as if there Avere some obstacle in the 
way which could be removed by swallowing it. 
Frequent attempts are made to .clear the tin oat 
by coughing, haAvking, and spitting. There is 
also more or less pain in the larynx. The \ r oice 


316 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


changes, there is hoarseness, and sometimes to¬ 
ward evening a complete loss of the voice. 

After the difficulty has become chronic, the 
fauces present a slightly raw or granulated sur¬ 
face, and a viscid or sticky mucus mixed with 
pus adheres to the palate at times. 

Causes. —Straining the voice in vociferous 
preaching, lecturing, and singing, or speaking on 
a high key, rich, unwholesome food, with inatten¬ 
tion to the temperature of the feet, and insuffi¬ 
cient ventilation of the sleeping room. 

Treatment Preventive. —Public speakers 
and singers may avoid this difficulty by a strict 
attention to the laws of life. Eat proper food, 
keep the feet warm, never strain the vocal organs 
nor speak in a hurried or excited manner, but 
with moderation. Bathe the throat frequently 
with cold water, and sleep in a well-ventilated 
room, and take from four to six hours’ exercise 
daily in the open air. 

Treatment Curative. —An abstemious diet of 
plain, wholesome food, with a tepid sitz and foot¬ 
bath for five or eight minutes, followed immedi¬ 
ately by a cool bath for three minutes, twice a 
week, with a dripping-sheet twice a week, also 
a hot fomentation alternated with cold every 
five minutes for thirty minutes applied to the 
throat daily for a few weeks, and a cold com¬ 
press applied to it nights, with proper care of the 
general health, will generally effect a cure. The 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


817 


vocal organs must be used properly. Always 
speak in the natural tone. 

HAY ASTHMA—HAY FEVER. 

This disease is a severe catarrh with an asth¬ 
matic affection. It occurs in the summer, and is 
due to peculiar emanations from decaying vege¬ 
tation, in connection with overeating or the use 
of improper food, or, as some suppose, from the 
emanations from certain grasses, flowers, or weeds. 
The mucous membrane of the eye—the conjunc¬ 
tiva—and of the nostrils and throat and bron¬ 
chial tubes are all somewhat inflamed, and there 
is headache, the eyes are watery, the nose is irri¬ 
tated, and there is frequent sneezing, and a dry, 
hacking cough, with occasional paroxysmal at¬ 
tacks of asthma, which last two or three hours. 
At times, the breathing is so difficult that suffo¬ 
cation appears to be certain. 

Treatment Preventive. —Eat but two meals 
a day, subsist upon a vegetarian diet, and 
eat nothing between meals. If three meals are 
eaten, the last should be very light, and of food 
that is easily digested. Some form of bath should 
be taken three times a week. The sleeping room 
should be thoroughly ventilated night and day. 

Treatment Curative. —Take hot baths of 

I any kind until sweating is induced, then wash 
off with cold water, use cold water freely about 
the head, and occasionally a hot fomentation to 



318 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


the head, throat, and chest, alternating with cold 
every eight or ten minutes, and pursue the same 
course as directed above for prevention. 

Sometimes a change of location during that 
period of the year when the patient is subject to 
this difficulty is the only way it can be avoided. 
When this is the case, the patient should visit 
a place free from much vegetation. A location 
with a breeze from the sea or from a large body 
of water would be good. 

WHOOPING-COUGH. 

This disease is too well known to need de¬ 
scription. 

Treatment. —Like all contagious diseases, 
whooping-cough will terminate in health as soon 
as the specific poison that occasions it is removed 
from the system. Therefore, all there is to do is 
to nurse the patient properly. The body should 
be at all times at about the same decree of tern- 

O 

perature. The child should be well protected by 
warm clothing in cold weather, and the air in its 
room should be of an even temperature night 
and day. The temperature should not rise above 
65° nor fall below 60°. Extremes in the tem¬ 
perature of the room are generally more injuri¬ 
ous than any other one thing in the whooping- 
cough. The diet must be plain, simple, and 
rather spare, yet the child must have sufficient 
to keep him well nourished. Feed infants as di- 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


310 


rected in Diet for Infants. Batlie the child three 
times a week in warm water. The form of hath 
is immaterial. Give a hot leg-bath for ten or 
fifteen minutes once or twice a week in addition 
to the other baths ; keep the head cool and the 
extremities warm at all times. One of the best 
methods of treating whooping-cough is to apply 
the cold compress to the chest and hot fomenta¬ 
tions to the spine at the same time. This may 
be done in connection with the above treatment. 
Hot fomentations should be applied over the liver 
two or three times a week. 


DISEASES OF THE CHEST. 

This class of diseases embraces diseases of the 
lungs, pleura, and heart. 

BRONCHITIS. 

This disease consists in an inflammation of the 
mucous membrane of the air passages after they 
enter the lungs. It may be acute or chronic. 
Acute bronchitis manifests the same symptoms, 
and requires the same treatment, as pneumonia, 
or lung fever, which see. 

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. 

This disease is seldom fatal, yet it may lead to 
a fatal disease. The first attack usually occuis 





320 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


in tlie winter. The majority of winter coughs 
arc examples of it. In the mild form, there is 
hut a slight cough, with shortness of breath, and 
a copious expectoration, these symptoms being 
always aggravated by exposure to cold or wet, or 
by bad living. This disease may, if the inflam¬ 
mation is confined to the larger tubes, exist for 
many years, and the patient experience no very 
great distress other than the discomfort of a fre¬ 
quent cough and expectoration. But if the cap¬ 
illary vessels become involved in the inflamma¬ 
tion, the symptoms are more violent, the breath 
is short and very difficult, and there is an excess¬ 
ive secretion of opaque, frothy mucus, mixed 
with pus. 

Treatment. —With the exception of wearing 
the chest-wrapper nights—see chest-wrapper— 
and applying once or twice a week the hot fo¬ 
mentation alternated with cold, for thirty min¬ 
utes, and once or twice a week applying cold to 
the chest and hot to the shoulders, the treatment 
should be as directed for constitutional treatment. 

CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS. 

In treating a common cold on the lungs, give 

0^0 

a hot bath of any kind for twenty minutes, fol¬ 
lowed by a cool bath for five minutes, and abstain 
from food for a day or two. In the meantime, 
apply hot fomentations alternated with cold 
every five minutes for one-half hour each day. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


321 


The tepid or cold compress or wet-jacket may be 
worn during the night. 

PNEUMONIA. 

Lung Fever , as this disease is sometimes called, 
is an inflammation of the substance of the lungs. 
It manifests itself by the following 

Symptoms. —This disease is ushered in by rest¬ 
lessness and general febrile disturbance. After 
from one to three days, there are chills or 
rigors, soon followed by nausea, cough, pain in 
the side, distressed breathing, and a pulse as high 
as from 120° to 160° beats per minute, and burn¬ 
ing heat of the skin, thirst, loss of appetite, pros¬ 
tration, headache, and sometimes delirium. Fre¬ 
quently the first symptom is the chill, and this 
is followed immediately by fever, cough, short¬ 
ness of breath, and restlessness. 

Treatment. —Keep cool cloths on the head 
when there is pain or preternatural heat in it. 
Give tepid packs, or the dripping-sheet, or the 
sitz-bath, and foot-bath, all at from 85° to 90° 
once a day. Apply cold compresses to the chest, 
and make hot applications to the shoulders and 
between them for thirty minutes twice a day. 
The fever should be treated according to its form. 
If it assumes the putrid form, treat as putrid fe¬ 
ver ; if the nervous form, treat as nervous fever. 
See Putrid and Nervous Fever. 





HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


Q9 9 

O It Li 


PLEURISY. 

This disease is an inflammation of the mem¬ 
brane that lines the cavity of the chest and lungs. 

Symptoms.— A slight chill, followed by a sharp, 
cutting pain in one or both sides. The pain is 
usually seated a little below the nipple. The 
pain is greatly aggravated by the inhalation of 
air in breathing, as the lungs expand and stretch 
the inflamed membrane. It is also increased by 
coughing, by lying on the affected side, and by 
pressure. There is a short, harsh cough, the skin 
is hot and dry, the cheeks are flushed, and the 
pulse is hard and quick, and the patient is anx¬ 
ious and restless. 

Treatment.— Time should not be lost before 
commencing the treatment, as this disease is very 
apt to terminate in dropsy of the chest, or in the 
formation of pus. As soon as possible after as¬ 
certaining the nature of the difficulty, give the 
patient as hot a sitz and foot-bath as he can well 
bear for fifteen minutes. Then apply a fomenta¬ 
tion, as hot as can be borne, over the region of 
the pain for from thirty to sixty minutes. • The 
heat should be renewed every five minutes. At 
the end of every fifteen minutes during the time, 
cold compresses should be applied for five min¬ 
utes at a time. Another plan is to give the hot 
sitz and foot-bath, then apply ice water to 
the affected part in front, and the hot fomenta- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


323 


tion to the shoulders and spine. The fever 
should be treated as putrid fever, if the patient is 
very gross, or as nervous fever, if very weak with¬ 
out much grossness. If the dropsical accumulation 
within the chest continues after the inflammation 
is apparently removed, treat with sweating baths, 
as directed for general treatment of dropsy. 

Night Sweats, may set in during this disease, 
or any other inflammatory or febrile (feverish) 
disease. All that is required is to sponge the 
patient frequently with tepid or cool water, give 
him plenty of pure air, and keep him quiet and 
free from anxiety. Cool dripping-sheets before 
retiring are among the best appliances. 

ASTHMA. 

This affection consists in a spasmodic contrac¬ 
tion of the smallest branches of the bronchial 
tubes so that it is with the greatest difficulty 
that the patient can inhale sufficient air to sus¬ 
tain life. The difficulty is not continuous, but 
the “ attacks ” occur at irregular intervals. It is 
generally symptomatic of other diseases. 

Treatment.— First, relieve the spasm by the 
hot half-bath or hot sitz and foot-bath prolonged 
for half an hour, allowing the patient in the 
meantime an abundance of pure, cool air, for 
which he is panting. The patient should drink 
freely of hot water to relieve the spasms. If the 
breathing is very difficult, hot fomentations 
should be applied, alternating with cold for 


324 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


three minutes, at the end of every ten minutes 
for a half hour. During the interval between 
the paroxysms, the patient should take constitu¬ 
tional treatment, which see. 

PULMONARY CONSUMPTION. 

There are several varieties of pulmonary con¬ 
sumption, but inasmuch as they all result in the 
wasting of the patient’s body and vitality, and as 
they all require about the same treatment, the 
separate varieties will not be presented here. 
The symptoms are such that they are not no¬ 
ticed much, and the patient seldom thinks there 
is much the matter with him until he is past 
help. 

In all forms of pulmonary consumption, the 
conditions are as follows : The lungs are inflamed 
and ulcerated, or they contain abscesses, or the 
mucous membrane of the air-cells is coated over 
with a catarrhal membrane, or the lungs are 
filled with tubercles. It matters not which of 
these conditions exist, the result is the same. 
The blood is not properly aerated, as the patient 
cannot inhale sufficient air to vivify it properly, 
consequently, the blood is not in condition to be 
used in building the tissues, and the patient 
gradually wastes away, j he wasting, however, 
does not particularly consist in the destruction of 
tissue in the lungs. It consists in this: The 
same waste and decay of tissue that takes 
place in health, as the result of vital action, takes 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


325 


place in disease, as tlie result of vital action. In 
health, the tissues are rebuilt as fast as waste oc¬ 
curs, consequently, the strength does not fail. 
In consumption, the same waste of tissue occurs, 
but as the blood has not sufficient vitality to 
make tissue, it is not used to any extent, con¬ 
sequently, as the tissues arc not rebuilt, the body 
must soon waste away. 

Another fact to be noticed is, that in all forms 
of consumption, the internal organs, especially 
the lungs, are congested or inflamed, while there 
is but a feeble circulation in the extremities and 
in the surface. 

Treatment.— From the forgoing remarks, it 
will be seen that in treating consumption, there 
are two things to be accomplished if we would 
be successful. 1. The congested and inflamed 
condition of the lungs is to be overcome. 2. The 
tissues of the patient’s body are to be supplied 
with well-vitalized blood. Here, then, we have 
indicated the course of treatment to pursue. 
The congestion is to be overcome by inducing 
an active superficial circulation. This is to be 
accomplished by baths of a few minutes’ dura¬ 
tion at as low a temperature as will be agreeable 
to the patient. . He must not chill, neither must 
his system receive a shock. The baths should 
be tepid or cool. If the cool bath is employed, 
it should not be continued more than one or two 
minutes, and the patient should be well rubbed 


32G 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


during the bath. The tepid bath may be con¬ 
tinued from two to five minutes according to the 
strength of the patient, and should end by pour¬ 
ing cool water over the patient. Never give 
consumptive patients a bath sufficiently cold to 
cause a shock. 

The above baths should be given once or twice 
a week, and every one should be followed by 
friction, or good dry-hand rubbing. If the pa¬ 
tient does not warm up by the rubbing, and a 
good reaction does not take place, the bath will 
do injury. 

The patient should clothe his extremities as 
warmly as any part of his body, and be sure to 
keep them always warm. To overcome the in¬ 
flammation in the lungs, make cold, cool, or tepid 
applications to the chest, with hot fomentations, 
or dry heat to the spine for ten or fifteen min¬ 
utes at a time two or three times a week, and 
wear the wet compress over the lungs three or 
four nights each week. The wet jacket may be 
worn in place of this if it does not cause the pa¬ 
tient to chill in the night. 

The sun-bath should be taken daily, and the pa¬ 
tient should be much in the open air and sun¬ 
shine, and should occupy a well-ventilated room 
night and day. His bed should be well aired 
daily. 

To supply the tissues with well-vitalized blood, 
the patient must subsist upon nourishing food, 
discarding all stimulating substances, all grease, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


327 


fats, oils, and condiments of all kinds. See 
Diet for the Sick. He must take all the out¬ 
door exercise that his strength will permit, and 
must accustom himself to full and free breathing. 
The last will require much time, practice, and 
patience. To accomplish it, the patient should 
stand erect, with the shoulders well back, or he 
should lie on his back, without a pillow, on the 
floor, table, or some other hard, level substance; 
then, with the lips closed, he should slowly fill 
his lungs, drawing the air in through the nos¬ 
trils. Great care is required at first not to strain 
the lungs. The lungs should be thus filled two 
or three times, then the patient should rest five 
minutes, and then fill them as before. He should 
continue this exercise for half an hour at a time, 
several times each day, commencing gradually at 
first, only filling the lungs nearly full. While 
thus filling the lungs, and during the whole 
time he is thus occupied, the patient should 
strike all parts of his chest and abdomen with 
the closed hand, very gently at first, after¬ 
ward using more force, but never so as to cause 
much pain. This full breathing and drumming 
the chest and abdomen must be persevered in 
until the lungs fill naturally without it. This 
may require many months. 

The dress must be very loose about the waist; 
corsets must not be worn. The patient should 
read Part I. of this work, and practice all it 
teaches. So also should all who would escape 


328 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


this fatal disease; for ninety-nine cases of con¬ 
sumption out of every hundred result from vio¬ 
lating the laws of health needlessly. The young, 
especially, should strive to so live that they may 
escape this dreaded and fatal disease. Oil-baths 
have been recommended in this disease—see Oil- 
bath—but I have never given them. 

Those who are troubled with lung difficulty 
should spend a few months at some health in¬ 
stitute in the early stages of this disease; for 
more benefit can be received by them in one 
month in the early stages than in six months at 
a later period. The great trouble in treating this 
disease is that it is generally neglected until it is 
too late to help the patient. 

DISEASE OF THE HEART. 

Organic disease of the heart is incurable. 
Functional derangement of the heart, such as 
palpitation, irregularity of the pulse, etc., is a 
symptomatic disease, and may occur when any of 
the large internal organs are inflamed. Not one 
in a hundred of those who think they have heart 
disease have any more disease of the heart than 
the soundest person in the world. They mistake 
simple palpitation, and the disagreeable feelings 
which accompany it, for disease of the heart, 
whereas the facts in the case are these : Some 
other organ is congested, or inflamed, or hardened, 
or wasted, and the circulation becomes unbalanced, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


329 


and occasionally the heart makes a desperate ef¬ 
fort to force the blood through the capillaries of 
the diseased organ, hence the palpitation, or ir¬ 
regularity. 

Treatment. —In any case of supposed disease 
of the heart, the patient should avoid all excite¬ 
ment, and all excessive exercise, and should care¬ 
fully follow out all the directions in Part I. of 
this work, and take treatment as directed for 
constitutional treatment. 


DISEASES OF ORGANS WITHIN THE ABDOMEN. 

DYSPEPSIA. 

If there is any one disease that should excite 
our sympathy and pity for the sufferer more than 
another, it is dyspepsia. So long as the food is 
well digested, the patient may be agreeable, 
cheerful, and hopeful; but let there be but a 
slight degree of irritation in the stomach of the 
confirmed dyspeptic, and a low-spirited condition 
is immediately induced, which may vary from 
slight dejection and ill-humor to the most ex¬ 
treme melancholy. At times, the patient miscon¬ 
strues every act of friendship, is irritable with 
those who desire to help him, while he exagger¬ 
ates slight ailments into heavy grievances. When 
suffering from irritation of the stomach, he is no 
more like himself when well than a kernel of 




330 HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

corn is like a potato. He says and does tilings 
exactly contrary to what he says and does when 
well. This makes him appear fickle and unreli¬ 
able, yet he cannot help it. Surely, such a per¬ 
son should be pitied. 

The work of digestion is principally performed 
by the gastric and pancreatic fluids. Whenever 
these two fluids are deficient in quantity or in 
quality, the food cannot be properly digested, and 
real dyspepsia is the result. 

Cause. —Probably there is no one disease, con¬ 
cerning the cause of which there exists so great a 
uniformity of opinion in the minds of medical 
men, as dyspepsia. They all agree that errors in 
diet and errors in exercise are almost the sole 
cause of this disease. The principal errors in di¬ 
et that cause this disease are the following: Food 
taken in too large quantities; food of improper 
quality, especially greasy food, and food highly 
seasoned or mixed with condiments; food taken 
at irregular times. Or dyspepsia may be caused 
by food imperfectly masticated, through careless¬ 
ness or hurry, or because of bad teeth, etc.; or 
by food taken into the stomach at too short inter¬ 
vals, not allowing the stomach sufficient time to 
rest. The drinking of too much fluid while eat¬ 
ing is also a cause of dyspepsia. In addition to 
these errors, the want of bodily exercise, seden¬ 
tary habits, inordinate intellectual exertion, care, 
anxiety, excessive physical exercise, the frequent 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


331 


use of drugs, especially narcotics, smoking, tobac¬ 
co-chewing, snuff-taking, and the use of alcoholic 
drinks, tea, and coffee, are each and all causes ol 
dyspepsia. 

Symptoms.— These vary in different individ¬ 
uals. A dyspeptic may manifest any of the fol¬ 
lowing symptoms: pain or uneasiness in the 
stomach, tenderness and a feeling of all-goneness 
at the pit of the stomach, as some express them¬ 
selves, foul breath, coated tongue, and unpleasant 
taste in the morning, capricious appetite, which 
at times refuses food, and at other times is un¬ 
satisfied even after a hearty meal, or there may 
be an entire loss of appetite; sensation of pain 
or a sense of weight and fullness in the upper 
portion of the abdomen, the formation of gas in 
the stomach or intestines, burning pain in the 
stomach—lieart-burn—cramp in the stomach, fre¬ 
quent eructations of gas or water from the stom¬ 
ach, habitually constipated bowels, chronic diar¬ 
rhea, or these conditions alternating. There may 
be nausea and vomiting, palpitation of the heart, 
irregularity of the pulse, headache, and occasion¬ 
ally dimness of vision. If the stomach is greatly 
distended with gas, the breathing will be difficult. 

Treatment. —Break away from every false 
habit; eat plain food, cooked in a simple manner; 
discard all rich food, grease, fat or oil, eat spar¬ 
ingly, masticate the food thoroughly, eat regu¬ 
larly, and not oftener than three times in twenty- 
four hours; drink neither tea, coffee, nor other 


332 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


drink with meals; use no alcoholic drinks at any 
time; take all the exercise in the open air that 
can be taken short of fatigue; breathe full and 
free; sleep much, and at regular hours; and al¬ 
ways retire early. If the stomach refuses to re¬ 
tain food, it should have rest for twenty-four 
hours, then begin feeding with a single spoonful 
of milk. After a half hour, give another spoon¬ 
ful, and so on. After a few hours, increase the 
amount, or add a little sifted oat, wheat, corn, or 
barley-meal gruel, and increase the amount no 
faster than the stomach can retain it. Take the 
mild baths, such as the dripping-sheet, spray- 
bath, sponge, sitz, or half-bath, twice a week. 

Take the dry-hand-rub every morning, and 
gently-percuss the abdomen and chest with the 
closed fist every hour through the day for ten 
minutes at a time. Horseback riding is excel¬ 
lent for those afflicted with this disease. Sun- 
baths should be taken daily. Hot fomentations 
over the stomach two hours after eating will 

o 

aid digestion. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH. 

There is a general fever, with burning pain in 
the upper part of the abdomen, which is increased 
on the slightest pressure; constant nausea,followed 
by violent retchings; an accelerated pulse ; diffi¬ 
cult breathing; great thirst, with unremitting 
desire for cold drinks, which are vomited as soon 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


333 


as taken. Soon extreme prostration follows, with 
faintness. 

Cause. —Powerful irritants or poisons taken 
iuto the stomach; cold water drank in large 
quantities when the body is heated by exercise, 
drinking of boiling water; large doses of emet¬ 
ics when they fail to produce vomiting, and large 
doses of tartar emetic. In most cases it is caused 
by the medicine the doctor ordered. 

Treatment. —Give the patient frequent sips 
of ice w^ater; small quantities of broken ice may 
he swallowed; cool water may be drank freely. 
The bowels, when constipated, should be freed 
by the use of tepid enemas. If there is a diar¬ 
rhea, give cool or cold enemas. Treat the fever 
as directed for simple fever. Hot fomentations, 
or heat and cold alternated, should be applied 
over the stomach several times a day. 

INFLAMMATION OP THE BOWELS. 

Symptoms. —There is a general fever—which 
may begin with chills—accompanied with severe 
pain in some part of the abdomen, generally 
around the umbilicus—navel—or on the right 
side of the abdomen between the right hip and 
the umbilicus. The pain is increased by pressure, 
but colic pains are not. The patient lies on his 
back with his knees drawn up, so as to relax the 
abdominal walls. There is obstinate constipation 


334 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


generally, but sometimes diarrhea attends, the 
faeces being green and offensive. Soon the symp¬ 
toms all become more marked, there is excessive 
thirst, dryness of the tongue, vomiting of bilious 
or offensive matter, and a watery diarrhea. When 
the lining membrane of the abdomen becomes in¬ 
flamed consequent upon childbirth, the disease is 
called puerperal fever. 

Treatment. —Reduce the inflammation by the 
constant application of the cold compress, changed 
as often as it becomes warm, or with the hot 
fomentation alternated with the cold compress 
every ten minutes. The hot sitz and foot-bath 
may be administered two or three times a day, 
ten or fifteen minutes at a time. The bowels 
should be freed by tepid enemas. Ice water may 
be drank frequently in small quantities. Reduce 
the fever, if there is any, with frequent wet-sheet- 
packs or tepid spongings. Treat puerperal fever 
in the same manner. 

DYSENTERY. 

When the laws of health are all obeyed, this 
disease never exists. Dysentery consists in an 
inflammation and ulceration of the lower portion 
of the large intestine and the rectum. There is 
usually more or less feverishness, frequent mucous 
and bloody stools, bearing down of the lower 
portion ot the large intestine, a frequent desire 
to go to stool, and griping pains in the abdomen. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


335 


In some cases, the ulceration extends the entire 
length of the large intestine and some distance 
into the small intestines. 

Cause.— Improper food, impure water, ex¬ 
posure to wet and cold, intemperance, excessive 
use of flesh-meats. 

Treatment. — The bowels should bo well 

* 

cleansed by a large warm enema, after which a 
small cold enema should be given and retained 
if possible. In some cases, ice water has the 
most soothing effect. The warm sitz-bath may 
be taken for eight or ten minutes at a time two 
or three times a day. A large cold wet compress 
should be applied to the abdomen constantly, 
and changed as often as it becomes warm, until 
the inflammation is subdued. Hot fomentations 
applied for half an hour, or alternated with cold 
every ten minutes, will be found very useful. 
The entire surface of the body should be sponged 
off several times a day with water that is most 
agreeable to the patient’s feelings, until the fever 
ceases. The patient should take occasional sips 
of ice water. The diet should be very spare until 
the violence of the inflammation and fever is over¬ 
come. Total abstinence from food is better. All 
the food taken should be bland, and of the lightest 
kinds, such as boiled rice, rice-meal gruel, gruel 
from any kind of meal, with or without milk. 
New milk may be given. Perfect rest in bed in 


336 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


a well-ventilated room is requisite even in the 
mildest forms of dysentery. 

DIARRHEA. 

Medical writers give us seven varieties of this 

disease; but as such a division will only tend to 

confuse the mind of the nurse, the disease will be 
• * 

described as a unit. 

Cause. —Overeating, and the use of improper 
food, such as unripe fruit, raw vegetables, sau¬ 
sage, pork, veal, or excessive quantities of fresh 
meat of any kind. Salt meat and salt fish may 
cause diarrhea by first inducing constipation. It 
may also be caused by want of nourishing food, 
by drinking foul water, or by inhaling the fumes 
ol decaying animal or vegetable matter, or by 
great mental excitement, exposure to damp or 
cold, or by excessive heat. Diarrhea is often a 
symptom of pulmonary consumption, congestion 
of the liver, and nervous and putrid—typhoid— 
fever. 

Symptoms. —The Decal discharges may be of the 
common quality, yet be loose and copious; if so, 
the cause is overeating or irritating food. In addi¬ 
tion to the former symptoms, the faeces may con¬ 
tain much bilious matter, in which case the dis¬ 
charges would be yellow or greenish. There may 
be much mucus mixed with the faeces, or they 
may be very watery, the discharges being thin 
and frothy, or the food may be expelled undigest¬ 
ed. There may be membranous matter dis- 


DISEASES AND TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


337 


charged ; if so, there is much inflammation in the 
bowels. There is also griping pain in the abdo¬ 
men. 

Treatment. —This must depend upon the 
cause. If occasioned by overeating, fasting would 
bo requisite; if by liver difficulty, the liver should 
bo treated (see Diseased Liver); if by inflam¬ 
mation of the bowels, treat the inflammation. 
When the treatment is commenced, a very thor¬ 
ough tepid enema should be administered. It 
should be as large as the patient can bear, and 
should consist of from a quart to two quarts of 
water for an adult, and in proportion for a child. 
The enema should bo repeated the second day. 
Small cold enemas—about a tumblerful—should 
be administered once or twice a day and re¬ 
tained. Warm sitz-baths, followed by a cool sitz- 
bath, should be taken for fifteen or twenty min¬ 
utes, three or four times a week. The hot fomen¬ 
tation, alternating with the cold compress, once 
or twice a week, is useful. The general health 
must be attended to (see Dyspepsia). The food 
must be largely or wholly composed of prepara¬ 
tions of fruits and grains. Wheat meal, oatmeal, 
barley meal, and cracked wheat, may all be used. 

MALIGNANT OB EPIDEMIC CHOLEBA. 

This disease has been considered the most fa¬ 
tal of any to which the human race is subject. 
Its characteristic features are vomiting, purging 
of watery discharges of the color and consist- 


338 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


ency of rice water, cramps, loss of animal heat, 
suppression of the urine, collapse and secondary 
fever. 

There are usually three stages. In the first, 
there is diarrhea. In the second, there is purg¬ 
ing of rice-water evacuations, vomiting, severe 
cramps, laborious breathing, coldness, with livid 
or bluish skin, sinking of the pulse, and collapse. 
In the collapsed stage, the surface is cold, the skin 
blue, the tongue lead color and cold, the lips are 
purple, the eyes sunken in their sockets, the 
cheeks fallen, the body diminishes, and there is a 
death-like appearance of the entire body; the 
voice is husky and faint, and the skin is bathed in 
a cold sweat. In the third stage, there is a reaction; 
a fever sets in, which continues until all danger 
is past. 

Cause.— The immediate cause of epidemic 
cholera is unknown, but is supposed to be atmos¬ 
pheric. There are, however, certain well-known 
predisposing causes which all may avoid. When 
these causes are present, sporadic cholera—chol¬ 
era morbus—may exist, and if the atmospheric 
cause is also present, epidemic cholera may pre¬ 
vail ; without these predisposing causes, neither 
form can prevail, therefore, cholera of every de¬ 
scription may be avoided by avoiding the predis¬ 
posing causes. These are, malarious gases that 
arise from decomposing vegetable and animal 
matters, want ol ventilation, impure water (this 


DISEASES AND TIIEIlt TREATMENT. 


339 


last is very bad), fear, and uncleanly habits of 
person and house. 

Treatment Preventive.— Remove all decom¬ 
posing animal or vegetable matter, including of¬ 
fal, manure heaps, stagnant water, foul pig-pens, 
henneries, and privy vaults. In other words, 
make your premises as clean as possible, keep the 
living and sleeping rooms thoroughly ventilated 
night and day, and let in the sunlight. Use no 
impure water—be sure on this point—use filtered 
rain water or soft water, and eat plain, nourishing 
food, composed of vegetable substances. Take a 
tepid bath twice a week; keep the bowels regular 
by the use of wheat-meal bread, mush, or with 
enemas if necessary. 

Treatment Curative.— As soon as the diar¬ 
rhea makes its appearance, administer a copious 
tepid enema, give a warm bath for twenty min¬ 
utes, and put the patient to bed and enjoin strict 
repose; then apply a cold compress to the abdo¬ 
men, and change as often as it becomes hot. Let 
the patient drink freely of cool or tepid water, or 
sparingly of cold water. If the diarrhea contin¬ 
ues four or five hours after the bath, give a small 
cold enema, to be retained. Give a woolen sheet 
pack, as hot as the patient can bear, for fifteen or 
twenty minutes, then take him out and wipe dry, 
then apply the cold compress to the abdomen as 
before. After vomiting occurs, give ice water in 
small quantities to drink. Bits of ice may be swal¬ 
lowed also. If cramping occurs, apply heat to the 



340 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


extremities and abdomen, and rub all parts 
thoroughly. Should collapse occur, give an ene¬ 
ma of hot water of three, four, or more pints as 
hot as the patient can bear, and envelop him in a 
very hot wet woolen blanket, covered with dry 
blankets, as directed for packs. As the patient 
recovers, be careful not to overfeed him, nor al¬ 
low him to take too much exercise. This disease 
is often fatal. 

CHOLERA MORBUS, OR SUMMER 
CHOLERA. 

The symptoms of this are not so violent as in 
the preceding variety of cholera; yet they do 
not differ particularly, except that the matter 
expelled both by purging and vomiting contains 
a great amount of bilious matter. The attack 
is generally sudden. At first, the contents of the 
stomach and intestines are voided by vomiting 
and purging, and then a quantity—sometimes an 
enormous quantity—of thick, yellowish fluid is 
expelled from the bowels by purging and vomit¬ 
ing. And there is a burning sensation in the 
upper part of the abdomen. After a while, 
spasms occur in the lower extremities, especially 
in the calf of the leg ; the surface of the abdomen 
is drawn up into knots, and, in course of time, 
the patient, exhausted by the pain and the 
spasms, and still more by the abundant discharges, 
grows cold and faint. Death sometimes follows, 
but not often. 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


341 


Causes.— The same as in the preceding variety. 

Treatment. —In the early stage, give the pa¬ 
tient copious warm enemas, and let him drink 
freely of warm water. After this is vomited, let 
him drink ice water frequently, hut in small quan¬ 
tities. As soon as possible after the “ attack,” 
give a warm sitz and foot-bath, or the half-bath, 
or full bath, or hot wet woolen sheet pack. It 
should continue about twenty minutes. The 
cold compress should be constantly applied to 
the abdomen, and changed as often as it becomes 
warm. The griping in the abdomen is best re¬ 
lieved by hot fomentations. The preternatural 
heat of the patient, should any exist, may be re¬ 
lieved by the cool sitz-bath, frequent sponging, 
or the wet-sheet pack; if headache occurs, apply 
the cold wet head-cap. 

CHOLERA INFANTUM. 

This disease prevails extensively among in¬ 
fants, generally in their first and second years, 
in cities during the summer. 

Symptoms. —These do not differ materially 
from the preceding. The first symptoms of 
the disease are generally profuse diarrhea, the 
stools being fluid of a light color, though often of 
a pale yellow or green color. After a few days 
(from one to three or four), vomiting sets in, and 
everything taken into the stomach is ejected im- 

Fam, Pins. Lo 


342 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


mediately, and with violence. After the disease 
has continued a short time, the discharges from 
the bowels are a colorless and inodorous fluid, 
and are discharged without the least effort. At 
times, however, they are voided with force. In 
this case, there is severe griping and dragging, 
or bearing down in the lower intestine. 

Treatment. —Give first a tepid enema. Then, 
at intervals of a few hours, give small cool ene¬ 
mas, give a warm full-bath for a few minutes 
daily, and frequent spongings with tepid or cool 
water; give pure, cool water to drink freely, and 
it there is blood passed, give a small cold enema. 
Hot and cold compresses alternated may be ap¬ 
plied to the abdomen daily. Place the child 
where it can have an abundance of pure, free, 
cool air. Keep the clothing and bedding clean 
and dry. Feed the child as directed in Diet for 
Infants in Part I. If the head becomes affected, 
apply to it hot fomentations, alternated with cold. 

WIND COLIC -FLATULENCE. 

Vvhen the food is not properly digested, or 
when unsuitable food is eaten, or when from any 
cause the food ferments in the alimentary canal, 
a gas is generated which, inflating a portion of 
the intestines, causes severe pain. There is, 
however, no inflammation, and no preternatural 
heat, and the pain is somewhat relieved by press¬ 
ure. Colic is also caused by the retained fmces 


DISEASES AND TIIEIU TREATMENT. 


343 


in constipation. Infants, when fed from a bottle 
by a careless nurse, often swallow air with their 
food in sufficient quantities to cause extensive 
flatulence. 

Treatment Preventive. —Avoid the use of 
all such food as is known to cause colic. Avoid 
exposure to damp and cold. Eat moderately of 
the most wholesome food. Attend to the general 
health. 

Treatment Curative.— Give a thorough enema 
of tepid water, and apply hot fomentations, alter¬ 
nated with cold, to the abdomen. The hot, 
warm, or cold sitz-batli may be employed. 

LEAD COLIC, COPPER COLIC. 

Colic is often occasioned by sleeping in a newly 
painted room, or by working with paint made of 
white lead, or by working brass and copper. 

Symptoms. —Similar to those in wind colic, 
and in addition, there are severe griping pains at or 
just above the umbilicus; the edges of the gums 
are of a purple or lead color. 

Treatment. —The same as for the preceding 
variety, viz., large tepid enemas, hot fomenta¬ 
tions alternated with cold, to the bowels, and hot, 
warm, or cold sitz-baths for twenty minutes. 

CONSTIPATION. 

As a rule, most people, when their bowels act 
normally, have an evacuation every day, some, 


344 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


twice a day, and others, once in two days. It is 
important that the bowels should act regularly, 
and that they act sufficiently often that their 
contents shall not become hardened. It is best 
that they act once or twice daily. 

There are many, however, who neglect them¬ 
selves, and have no regularity of habit in this re¬ 
spect. Evil results often follow this neglect, such 
as irritation of the mucous membrane of the in¬ 
testines, camsing inflammation, diarrhea, dysen¬ 
tery, piles—hemorrhoids, etc. 

Cause.— The most common cause is the use of 
bread made of bolted wheat flour, salt fish, salt 
meat, and sedentary habits. 

Treatment.— Move the bowels with enemas, 
and subsist upon plain food ; use no bolted wheat 
flour, but use unbolted wheat meal or graham 
flour, corn meal, oatmeal, pearl barley, cracked 
wheat, hulled corn, etc., and fruit, especially ap¬ 
ples. Take daily exercise in the open air, such 
as walking, horseback riding, or useful labor of 
any kind. Indolence and too much sleep must 
be avoided. A glass or two of cold water drank 
night and morning is very beneficial. 

Sometimes the rectum becomes so packed with 
hardened fleces that a passage cannot be had, nor 
can water be introduced. In such cases, the 
faeces must be removed with the handle of a 
spoon, or a similar instrument, or with the 
fingers. 

o 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


345 


PILES—HEMORRHOIDS. 

The usual causes of this troublesome difficulty are 
habitual constipation, the frequent use of purging 
medicines, torpid liver, straining to pass hardened 
freces, rich food, insufficient exercise, etc. 

Treatment.— Keep the bowels free, avoid all 
the known causes of the difficulty, do not over¬ 
eat, and take a shallow cold sitz-bath two or 
three times a day, when they are inflamed and 
painful. Ice introduced into the rectum will 
give relief. 

When bleeding or internal piles exist, the 
hemorrhage can be stopped as directed for hem¬ 
orrhage of the rectum, which see. The general 
health must be well attended to. See Constitu¬ 
tional Treatment. 


WORMS. 

Cause. —The use of unwholesome food, over¬ 
eating, and indigestion, are the chief causes. It 
is true that the eggs must be introduced into the 
alimentary canal, yet, were proper food taken in 
proper quantities, the bowels would act regularly, 
and the worms could not remain in them. 

Symptoms. —The most common are colicky 
pains and swelling of the abdomen, picking of 
the nose, itching of the rectum and anus, irregu¬ 
larity of the bowels, foulness of the breath, grind¬ 
ing of the teeth while sleeping, voracious appe- 


346 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


tite, headache, etc. The most conclusive evi¬ 
dence is the passage of worms or joints of worms. 

Treatment. —The small thread worm can gen¬ 
erally be removed by cold enemas of salt water, 
which should be given three times a w^eek for a 
few weeks to remove any remaining worms. 
Sometimes cold water alone is sufficient. The 
long, round worm will have to be killed in most 
cases before it can be removed. Anthelmintics, 
or worm medicines, will have to be given. These 
are simply poisons, and are not to be given for 
the purpose of curing the sick child, but for the 
purpose of killing the worms, thereby causing 
them to loosen their hold on the mucous mem¬ 
brane ol the intestine, after which they are read¬ 
ily passed off. Of course a large dose of the 
poison w'ould kill the child. There are many 
cases, however, in which the worms can be 
caused to loosen their hold by the use of mucil¬ 
aginous drinks; pumpkin-seed tea or slippery 
elm bark will often effect this. When a tape 
worm is known to exist within the bowels—this 
is ascertained by the passage of joints of the 
worm a physician who understands his business 
should be employed, as much care has to be ex¬ 
ercised in administering the poisons. 

ASCITES—DROPSY OF THE ABDOMEN. 

When this disease exists, the general health 
must be improved by the employment of suitable 


DISEASES AND THElil TREATMENT. 


347 


hygienic agencies. Tepid enemas should be ad¬ 
ministered frequently, also hot-air-baths, hot 
packs, or hot sitz-baths, once or twice a week. 
In all other respects follow directions for consti¬ 
tutional treatment, and general treatment of 
dropsy. 

DISEASED LIVER. 

This term is intended to cover all the diseases 
to which the liver is liable. 

The liver may be simply congested, or it may 
be hardened, or it may be wasted, or gall-stones 
may exist and remain in the gall-bladder, or they 
mav pass through the biliary ducts, causing ex¬ 
cruciating pain, or the liver may be inflamed, the 
bile may be reabsorbed, causing jaundice, or ab¬ 
scesses may form in the liver. 

Symptoms. —When the liver is congested, there 
is headache, a disinclination for exertion, frequent 
flushing of the face, coldness of the extremities, 
pains in the muscles of the loins and limbs, 
weight in the right side under the lower libs, 
the bowels are more or less filled with wind, 
there is nausea, dizziness, dyspepsia, slight jaun¬ 
dice, and highly colored urine, which is usually 
rather scanty. 

When the liver is in a state of wasting (atro¬ 
phy), there is indigestion, flatulence wind in 
the intestines—constipation and diarrhea alter- 


3 18 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


Rating, pale-colored stools, a dry, sallow skin, fall¬ 
ing away in flesh, and loss of strength. 

When gall-stones pass from the gall-bladder, 
they cause a sharp, cutting pain in the region of 
the liver, and the patient throws himself about 
on the bed in different positions to get relief by 
change of posture. The upper portion of the righ t 
side of the abdomen is very sensitive to the 
touch, nausea and vomiting come on rapidlv, the 
bowels are confined and distended with wind. 

When there is acute inflammation, there is, at 
the first, tenderness over the liver, high fever, 
hot skin, extreme thirst, scanty urine, fullness, 
and more or less pain in the right side under the 
ribs, which is aggravated by pressure, by cough¬ 
ing, or by deep breathing; inability to lie on the 
left side, the breathing is more or less difficult, 
and there is a sympathetic cough, vomiting, and 
pain in the shoulders. If the inflammation con¬ 
tinues to the suppurative stage, an abscess forms. 
The symptoms attending abscess are the same as 
those in acute inflammation, with the addition of 
chills, hectic fever, disturbance in the stomach, 
weight in the region of the liver, and a dry 
cough. 

When jaundice exists, the skin and the mern- 
biane of the eyes are of a yellow color, the urine 
is saffron-colored, and there may be exhaustion, 
drowsiness, giddiness, or peevishness. 

Treatment. —This must first be with reference 


DISEASES AND TIIEIR TREATMENT. 


349 


to the cause, which must he removed. All highly 
seasoned food, all fats and oils, sweetmeats, and 
rich preserves, sauces and gravies, etc., must be' 
avoided. The patient must use only the most 
wholesome articles of diet, take exercise daily in 
the open air, sleep in a well-ventilated room, 
keep the bowels unobstructed by the use of coarse 
food or by enemas. He should take a thorough 
dry-hand-rubbing on rising in the morning, and 
two or three times a week take a tepid or cool 
sitz-bath for five minutes, followed by a tepid 
dripping-sheet. 

If gall-stones are passing, he should apply hot 
fomentations over the region of the pain. Yv hen 
there is acute inflammation, he should apply the 
cold compress constantly, unless the pain is severe, 
in which case, the hot fomentation should be ap¬ 
plied. The cold compress may be occasionally 
exchanged for the prolonged warm fomentation. 
The hot sitz-bath and hot foot-bath are good in 
this difficulty. In all forms of liver disease, the 
wet-girdle should be worn four nights in the 
week. The directions for taking constitutional 
treatment should be followed out except when 
contra-directed here. 

DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN. 

Those who have had intermittent fever, and 
have taken much quinine, are apt to have a dis¬ 
eased spleen. A hard lump may be felt in the 


350 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


left side—usually known as ague cake—and 
there is more or less pain in the left side. 

Treatment. —The same as for diseased liver. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 

Scrofulous persons are quite apt to have acute 
inflammation of the kidneys. This disease is also 
brought on quite frequently by exposure to cold 
and damp, also from the formation of gravel—hard¬ 
ened calculi—in the kidneys or their excretory 
ducts—the ureters—occasioned by drinking hard 
water, also from intemperance combined with poor 
living, also from the use of medicines given to pro¬ 
mote the urinary excretions. Suppuration and the 
formation of abscesses in the substance of the 
kidneys often result from acute inflammation in 
these organs. ' Chronic inflammation may result in 
a gradual breaking down of the excreting glands 
of the kidneys, causing most serious difficulty. 

Symptoms. —In the acute variety of this dis¬ 
ease, there is deep-seated pain in the loins on the 
affected side, especially in the region of the kid¬ 
neys ; the pain sometimes extending along the 
duct from the kidney to the neck of the bladder, 
or to the groin. The pain is increased by press¬ 
ure or by exercise. There is also numbness of 
the thigh on the affected side. There may be 
occasional chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting, 
great thirst, constipation, and a swollen or bloat- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


351 


ed abdomen, and occasionally there may be sup¬ 
pression of the urine. 

In chronic inflammation of the kidneys, the 
symptoms differ from the above in that they 
are scattered through a longer period, consequent¬ 
ly are not so noticeable, yet, were they all con¬ 
centrated into two or three weeks’ time, they 
would be as above described. 

Treatment.— Acute inflammation of the kid¬ 
neys should be treated by applying hot fomenta¬ 
tions to the loins and back, over the kidneys, or 
by alternating the hot fomentation with the cold 
compress, or by applying cold to the back, and 
heat to the bowels over the umbilicus. The hot 
sitz-bath should be taken frequently. The hot¬ 
air-bath and the hot wet woolen sheet pack are 
also applicable. The fever that attends should be 
treated as an ordinary fever. Wear the cool wet- 
girdle nights, and apply cold water over the kid¬ 
neys frequently. 

In chronic inflammation of the kidneys, the 
tepid sitz-bath, full-bath, half-batli, the dripping- 
sheet, and the spray-bath, are all applicable, and 
any of these may be taken three times a week. 
If there is much pain, apply hot fomentations. 
The diet must be strictly hygienic. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 

This disease is not a frequent occurrence, yet 
it sometimes exists as the result of stone in the 





352 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


bladder, or the habitual use of medicines to pro¬ 
mote the urinary excretions. It may also be 
caused by the protracted retention of the urine. 

Symptoms.— Shivering, pain over the bladder, 
and heat in the external urinary passage—the 
urethra—with a constant desire to pass urine, 
which is voided in very small quantities. There 
is a high fever, with nausea, general restlessness, 
and anxiety. 

Treatment. —Give the hot sitz-batli, as hot as 
can be borne, for fifteen or twenty minutes at a 
time, three or four times a day, and apply the 
cold wet compress over the bladder at other times. 
Renew the compress as often as it gets warm. 
Treat the accompanying fever with wet-sheet- 
packs, or tepid baths, as directed for fever in gen¬ 
eral. Give an occasional tepid enema, with a 
small cold enema to be retained after the bowels 
have moved. Keep the extremities warm. 

PARALYSIS OP THE BLADDER. 

It sometimes happens that for some cause, 
such as neglect, or sensitiveness because of the 
presence of persons of the opposite sex, that the 
urine is retained until the bladder, by being over¬ 
stretched, loses its power to contract and void 
its contents, or there may be internal pressure 
against the neck of the bladder, caused by retro¬ 
version of the uterus. When the bladder is filled 
to its utmost capacity, the urine will dribble 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


353 


away slowly, this incontinence being one of the 
symptoms of retention. 

Treatment. —In all cases when retroflexion 
of the uterus is not known to be the cause of the 
retention, it may be considered as highly proba¬ 
ble that paralysis of the bladder exists. If the 
pain is not very severe, a hot sitz-bath or hot fo¬ 
mentation should be given without delay. The 
hot application should be followed by a dash of 
cold water on the abdomen. If the distress is 
very great, or if the hot applications do not cause 
a passage of the urine, or if the retention is 
caused by retroversion of the uterus, the urine 
should be immediately drawn off with a catheter. 

PAINFUL URINATION. 

This disease may be relieved by warm sitz- 
batlis, or the warm full bath, hot fomentations, 
and copious water drinking. 

INCONTINENCE OF URINE. 

This disease consists of a frequent or perpetual 
discharge of urine. The difficulty in retaining 
it is caused by the habitual use of hot drinks, 
medicine given to promote the secretion ol unne, 
and alcoholic drinks. 

Treatment. —Remove the cause, and follow 
the plan directed for constitutional treatment. 






354 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


UTERINE DERANGEMENTS. 

The uterus and vaginal canal are liable to sev¬ 
eral forms of disease. There may be acute or 
chronic inflammation of this organ, or there may 
be excessive menstruation, or suppression of the 
menses, or retention, or painful menstruation; or 
there may be displacement of the uterus, or can¬ 
cerous tumors, or ulcerations, or leucorrhcea may 
exist. There are but few of these difficulties that 
can be successfully treated at home, and every 
patient who is afflicted with serious uterine diffi¬ 
culty should go to some good health institute 
where the principles of treatment advocated in 
this work are carried out. The Health Reform 
Institute at Battle Creek, Michigan, is probably 
the best in America. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE UTERUS. 

The symptoms in this difficulty are similar to 
those in inflammation of the bladder. There is, 
however, a sense of weight and pain that is not 
referable to the bladder, and which is caused by 
the swollen uterus. 

Treatment. —The same as for inflammation of 
the bladder. In addition to this, however o-ive 
frequent cool vaginal injections. 

LEUCORRHCEA. 

This disease effects more than half the women 
in America. In fact, it is the most common dis- 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


355 


ease to which women are liable. It consists of a 
slight inflammation of the mucous membrane of 
the vaginal canal, or of the uterus, which results 
in the throwing out of a white, or yellowish 
white, fluid, which is frequently or constantly 
discharged. There is usually more or less pain 
in the back, with a sense of weariness after slight 
exertion, loss of appetite, lowness of spirits, nau¬ 
sea, flatulence, or some other form of indigestion. 

Treatment.— The patient should seek to im¬ 
prove the general health by carefully following 
the directions given for constitutional treatment. 
In addition to this, cool vaginal injections should 
be administered three or four times each day. 

The same treatment is applicable to most uter¬ 
ine difficulties. If the patient is full of blood 
and not much reduced, the treatment can be 
more vigorous; but if weak and bloodless, the 
treatment must be mild. 

SUPPRESSION OF THE MENSES. 

For cause and treatment of this difficulty, see 
Chlorosis. 

UTERINE DISPLACEMENTS. 

Uterine displacements require both general 
and local treatment, and, as a general thing, can¬ 
not be successfully treated at home, yet there 
are certain preventive measures that ought to be 
understood and adopted by all, and these consist 
in avoiding the causes of the difficulty. The 


35G 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


liabit of dressing girls so that their extremities 
become chilled while the internal organs are over¬ 
heated, is one great cause of this difficulty. An¬ 
other cause is wearing corsets, and having the 
garments tight about the waist, or suspended 
therefrom, thereby pressing the abdominal or¬ 
gans down upon the pelvic organs so that the 
latter have to give way to make room for the 
former. Hardened faeces, if allowed to accumulate 
in the lower bowel, may cause displacement, as 
also may severe straining at stool. 

There is one habit that very many girls and 
young women have, that is very liable to cause 
displacement of the uterus, in fact, I believe that 
a large share of the cases of retroversion and ret¬ 
roflexion are dependent mainly on this one habit. 
The habit to which I refer is that of retaining 
the urine until the bladder becomes filled to its 
utmost capacity. As the bladder becomes filled 
with water, it tips the uterus backward or presses 
it downward. 

Mothers should instruct their daughters to at- 

O 

tend promptly to the calls of nature, for if this 
matter is habitually neglected, it soon becomes a 
fixed habit, and the bladder in a great measure 
loses its powers of sensation so that the distress 
which was experienced at first when it was but 
slightly distended is not felt when the disten¬ 
tion is still greater. The constant dowmvard 
and backward pressure of the bladder against 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


357 


the uterus soon tells upon its supports, and the 
displacement becomes permanent. 

In treating displacements, all the causes of the 
difficulties should be carefully avoided, and the 
general health well attended to and improved. 
Cool baths and cool vaginal injections and cool 
sitz-baths of four or five minutes’ duration are 
beneficial. The abdomen should be well kneaded 
daily, and the bowels kept free. In many cases, 
the organ will require to be occasionally replaced. 
The patient should take constitutional treatment. 

SKIN DISEASES. 

When the general health is neglected, and in¬ 
ternal organs become torpid, the skin is liable to 
various diseases, such as eruptions, rashes, scales, 
etc. 

Treatment. —It matters not what form the 
disease of the skin assumes, constitutional treat¬ 
ment is required, and in addition thereto, the 
patient should strictly regard all the laws of 
health as directed in Part I. 

ITCH. 

The itch is caused by a minute insect that 
burrows under the scarfskin. The disease com¬ 
mences as watery pimples, which, becoming 
ruptured by scratching, become festering sores. 

Treatment. —Administer a thorough, hot full 

21 


Fam. rhys. 


358 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


bath, or a prolonged warm bath, using soft soap 
freely, then apply an ointment made of eight 
ounces of lard or glycerine, two ounces of flour 
sulphur, and one-half ounce of carbonate of po¬ 
tassium. Apply the ointment warm to all parts, 
then put the patient to bed and wrap him up well 
all night; be sure the patient keeps warm. In 
the morning, wash thoroughly in hot water with 
plenty of soft soap. Wash all the bedding used 
about the body, and boil it thoroughly,to remove 
the sulphur. 

ACCIDENTS. 

Barns and Scalds. If the burn or scald is 
not so serious as to raise a blister, there will be 
no special requirement for treatment, except to 
quiet the nerves and exclude the air. 

The part may be oiled with any kind of oil, or 
it may be covered with molasses, or anythin^ to 
exclude the air. Cotton-wool bound on will 
often be all that is required. If a blister is 
formed, the water should be removed by prick¬ 
ing the skin with a fine needle. Care must be 
taken not to remove the skin, however, as this 
would permit the air to come in contact with the 
flesh, and serious consequences might follow. 
After letting the water out, as directed, the part 
should be oiled and bound with cotton, as di¬ 
rected above. 

If a fever arises, the patient should take a bath 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


359 


at 70° or 75° for a few minutes, and then take a 
dry pack to induce sweating if possible, giving 
water to drink freely. In deep burns, where the 
skin is removed, starch or flour may be sprinkled 
over the part and allowed to remain until it is 
removed by the formation of pus, when the sur¬ 
face may be gently washed, and the flour again 
applied. Instead of using the flour, oil and cot¬ 
ton may be used. 

After once dressing the wound, it is best not 
to remove the bandage any sooner, nor oftener, 
than is required to keep the part clean, as the 
admission of air causes mischief. 

When a person’s clothes take fire, the flame 
can be speedily extinguished by wrapping him in 
a blanket. This will exclude the air, and extin¬ 
guish the flame. 

DROWNING. 

If a person is drowned, an effort should be 
made to restore life, unless an hour or more has 
elapsed since the accident. 

It should be remembered that, in drowning, 
death occurs from lack of air, and not because 
the lungs are filled with water. In drowning, 
the glottis closes spasmodically, and shuts the 
air out from the lungs. 

Treatment. —Place the patient on his back 
with the head and shoulders slightly raised. 
Cleanse the nostrils, mouth, and throat from mucus, 


300 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


after which draw the tongue firmly forward, so 
as to keep the tip well extended at the side of 
the mouth ; this will open the glottis; then com¬ 
press the front and sides of the chest with the 
patient’s own arms, which will force the air out of 
his lungs; then suddenly remove the pressure, 
and grasp the arms just above the elbows and 
draw them upward until they nearly meet above 
the head. Then lower them and replace them 
at the patient’s side, and again press upon the 
chest to force the air from the lun^s, and raise as 
before; repeat the process fifteen times in the 
minute, that being the usual number of inspira¬ 
tions per minute, moving the arms slowly each 
way. The face should be well fanned at the 
same time. Continue this process until life is 
restored or until it is certain that death has act¬ 
ually taken place. While this process is taking 
place, assistants should apply warmth to the ex¬ 
tremities and body. 

In apparent death , from any cause, this proc¬ 
ess should be resorted to. 

UNKNOWN DISEASES. 

It sometimes happens that a person is ailing, 
yet does not know the nature of his disease. 
Perhaps he is able to keep about and do some 
work, yet there is a general weakened condition 
of the system. He is easily fatigued, does not 
rest well nights, but feels tired or exhausted on 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


301 


waking, has no appetite, feels better about ten or 
eleven o’clock in the forenoon, and continues to 
feel so until two or three in the afternoon, then 
begins to be weary. The question is, What ails 
him ? The doctor answers, Nervous debility. 
But what is that ? What are his conditions ? 
They are dyspeptic, with torpid liver, constipated 
or relaxed bowels, weak lungs, and, in fact, nearly 
every internal organ is more or less diseased. 
The organic nervous system is not sustained 
properly because the blood is poor, and this is 
caused by indigestion and a failure to breathe 
enough to properly vivify the blood. Such per¬ 
sons wish to know what to do to regain health. 

Treatment.— He should carefully examine 
every habit of life and ascertain wherein he is 
transgressing the laws of health, and correct 
every false habit. Perhaps the sleeping room is 
not properly ventilated, or it may be the sunlight 
is shut out of the dwelling. The water used 
may be hard or impure, or perhaps he does not 
bathe sufficiently often to keep the pores of the 
skin open. It may be that the food is too highly 
seasoned, or is not properly cooked, or is eaten in 
too large quantities or too frequently, or too late 
in the evening; perhaps tea or coffee is used with 
the food, or too much flesh may be eaten, or fats, 
oils, butter, rich gravy, or preserves, and condi¬ 
ments. Or the food may be imperfectly mastica¬ 
ted, or there may have been exposure to wet and 


362 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


cold. The clothing may not be properly adjusted; 
perhaps the limbs and feet are insufficiently cloth¬ 
ed, while the body may be too warmly clad, or the 
clothing may be too tight. The habits may be 
sedentary, and he may not exercise sufficiently 
to keep up a good circulation, or the exercise 
may not be of the right kind, op he may be over¬ 
worked. Perhaps rest and sleep are not taken 
regularly, or the bed is old and filthy, or is not 
aired daily, or perhaps a feather bed is used, or 
perhaps the night vessel is left standing in the 
room, or left uncovered to send off its effluvia. 
Perhaps the faeces and urine are retained until 
their poisons are reabsorbed by the system, or, in 
the case of females, until by the accumulation 
the uterus is displaced. The bodily positions 
may be wrong, so that by the constant bending 
or crooking of the body some of the internal or¬ 
gans may be so pressed out of position that they 
cannot properly perform their functions. Or it 
may be that there is decaying vegetation near the 
residence, and that the air is tainted with its 
noxious gases. Perhaps a heap of stable or barn¬ 
yard litter, or a pigpen or privy vault, or a pond 
of stagnant water throws off these gases, or the 
cellar may be unventilated or contain decaying 
vegetables, fruit, or meat. 

Perhaps there is some mental difficulty that 
causes the ill health. It may be care and anxiety, 
or worry, or a lack of cheerfulness, or morosencss, 


DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 


363 


or despondency, or the mind may be unoccupied 
the patient having no object in life. It may be 
a sense of wrong doing, or a knowledge of duties 
undone, that weighs upon the mind and preys 
upon the health. 

These points should all be considered, for every 
one of the foregoing habits and conditions engen- 

O o o 

ders disease, and prevents a restoration to health. 
Therefore let every chronic invalid study w^ell 
the requirements of health as given in Part I., 
and then try to put its teachings in practice. 
He should also take constitutional treatment. 

CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT. 

Many cases of chronic disease require constitu¬ 
tional treatment as well as local treatment. By 
constitutional treatment is meant a course of 
treatment calculated to increase the constitu¬ 
tional power and vigor of the patient. This 
treatment consists, first, in putting the patient on 
a plain, unstimulating diet, which must be com¬ 
posed of the very best quality of fruits, grains, 
and vegetables. There should be a variety of 
these provided, so that the weak digestive or¬ 
gans may find plenty of good, nourishing food 
from which to make blood. 

There need not and should not be a very great 
variety at one meal, but there should be in the 
course of the week a good variety used. Sweet 
milk and cream may be used to some extent in 


364 


HYGIENIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 


cooking other food, and, if the patient is not an 
experienced vegetarian, or if he is very much de¬ 
bilitated, he should occasionally, that is, once or 
twice a week, use a little fresh beef or mutton 
that is free from fat. It is far better, however, 
to abstain from such food entirely, as soon as a 
person can habituate himself to a vegetable diet. 

In addition to proper diet, the patient should 
form habits of regularity in all things, and espe¬ 
cially in the time of eating, retiring for sleep, 
amount of exercise, and in moving the bowels. 
The clothing should be worn loose about the 
waist, the feet and limbs should be w r armly clad; 
and the patient should spend as much as pos¬ 
sible of his time in the open air and sun¬ 
shine—avoiding excessive heat, however—and 
should sleep in a large, airy room. On rising in 
the morning, the patient should rub himself 
briskly with the dry hand for five or ten minutes, 
being careful not to chill. He should also, as 
often as every other day, take a tepid bath of ten 
to twenty minutes’ duration, followed by a cool 
bath for three to five minutes, and this, by a 
thorough drying and dry-hand-rubbing. If he 
has liver, kidney, or bowel difficulty, or trouble 
with the spleen, he should wear the wet-girdle 
tli ree or four nights in the week. If the throat 
is affected, ho should wear the compress around it 
nights, keeping it well covered with a dry cloth. 


INDEX 


PAGE-; 

Abdomen, Organs of, . 206 

“ Diseases within,. 208 

Accidents. 358 

Ague, . 265 

Air, its Use, . 6 

“ Importance of, . 7 

Anmmia, . 220 

Animal Baths, . 183 

“ Heat, Source of, . 28 

“ Poisons,. 210 

Appetite, Loss of, . 17 

Apoplexy, . 292 

Aeration of the Blood, . 7 

Arm-Bath, . 168 

Ascites, . 346 

Ashes from the Tissues, . 7 

Asthma, .317, 323 

Authors Quoted, . 98-112 

Baths, .. 115 

Bathing, General Buies for,. 127 

Bath, Temperature of, . 130 

“ for Infants, . 132 

“ Animal, . 183 

“ Arm, . 168 

“ Cataract-Douche, . 149 

“ Cool-Air, . 176 

‘ Dripping-Sheet, . 145 

“ Drop,. 152 

“ Douche, . 149 

“ Electric, . 170 

“ Foot, . 142 

“ Full, . 134 

“ Half,. 136 

“ Hand, . 132 

“ Head, ... .. 166 


Fam. Fhys. 2o 







































366 


INDEX. 


Bath, Hot-Air, . 

“ Hip, . 

“ Leg, . 

“ Mad, .. 

“ Medicated, . 

“ Nasal, . 

“ Oil, . 

“ Plunge, . 

“ Sand, . 

“ Shallow, . 

“ Shower, . 

“ Spray, . 

“ Sponge, . 

“ Sitz, . 

“ Sun, . 

“ Vapor, . 

Beds and Bedding, . 

Bladder, Inflammation of, . 

“ Paralysis of, . 

Bleeding from the Nose, . 

“ “ “ Lungs, . 

“ “ “ Stomach, . 

“ “ “ Kidneys, . 

“ “ “ Rectum, . 

“ “ “ Uterus, . 

Blood, Red Corpuscles of, . 

“ how Aerated, . 

“ how Vivified, . 

“ Morbid Conditions of, . 

“ Poverty of, . 

“ Fullness of, . 

Brain, Location of, . 

“ its Functions,. 

“ Diseases of, . 

“ Inflammation of, . 

“ Congestion of, . 

“ Fever of, . 

Bronchial Tubes, Location of, .... 
“ “ Inflammation of, 

Bronchitis, Acute, . 

“ Chronic, . 

Burns, . 


Tage. 

. 174 
. 139 
. 108 
. 183 
. 188 
. 169 
. 183 
. 152 
. 182 
. 137 
. 143 
144 
. 132 
. 139 
, 177 
.. 175 
. 41 
. 351 
. 352 
„ 229 
„ 230 
, 231 
.. 232 
. 232 
.. 232 
. 00 


. G 

. 220 

. 220 

224 

...... 201 

. 201 

202, 289 

. 289 

. 290 

. 272 

. 205 

. 319 

. 319 

. 318 

. 358 


Carbonic Acid Gas, . 7, 8 

Calculi, how Formed, ... 13 

Cancer. 247 















































INDEX. 367 

PAGE. 

Canker in the Mouth, . 399 

Catarrh, . 397 

Causes of Disease, .63, 210 

Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, . 272 

Cheerfulness, . 22 , 44 

Chest-Pack,. 158 

Chest-Wrapper, .. 159 

Chicken-Pox, . 281 

Chills, Congestive, . 268 

Chlorosis, . 223 

Choking, . 313 

Cholera, Malignant or Asiatic, . 337 

“ Morbus, . 340 

“ Infantum, . 341 

Clergyman’s Sore Throat, . 315 

Clothing, . 31 

Clysters, . 173 

Coffee, .. 27 

Cold Applications, . 122 

“ to the Spine, . 124 

Colon, Location of, . 207 

Colic, Wind, . 342 

“ Lead, . 343 

“ Copper, . 343 

Compresses, . 162 

Congestions, . 233 

“ of the Brain, . 290 

“ of the Lungs, . 320 

Constipation, . 343 

Constitutional Treatment, . 363 

Consumption, Pulmonary, . 324 

Convulsions, . 303 

Cool-Air-Baths, . 

Corpulency, . 250 

Croup, ...... 3, 312 

Decayed Teeth, . 809 

Duodenum, . 207 

Diet for Infants,. 22 

“ for the Sick, . 161 

Diptheria, . 811- 

Disease, Definition of, .•••• 87 

“ Causes of, ...63, 210 

“ Treated by Drugs, . 67 

“ General, . 219 

“ Local, . 288 















































368 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Disease, Diagnosis of, . 212 

“ Rules for Determining, . 213 

“ Language of, . 21 o 

“ how to Locate a, . 217 

“ Names of, . 217 

Diseases, Classification of, . 219 

“ of the Brain, . 202 

“ “ “ Mouth, . 308 

“ “ “ Throat, . 204, 311 

« “ “ Chest, . 205, 319 

“ “ “ Heart, . 328 

“ “ “ Abdomen, . 206, 329 

“ “ “ Intestines,. 207 

“ “ “ Liver, . 208, 347 

“ “ “ Pancreas, . 208 

“ “ “ Kidneys, . 209 

“ “ “ Spleen, . 349 

“ “ “ Skin, . 357 

“ Unknown,. 360 

Distilled Liquors, . 27 

Diarrhea, . 336 

Dizziness, . 296 

Douche-Baths, . 149 

Drinks with Food,. 26 

“ Hot,. 27 

Dripping-Sheet-Bath, . 145 

Drop-Bath, . 152 

Dropsy, General, . 241 

“ of the Head, . 243, 291 

“ “ “ Chest, . 243 

“ “ “ Heart, . 243 

“ “ “ Abdomen, . 243, 346 

Drugs, Effects of, . 57-114 

Drowning,. 359 

Eating, Time for, . 16, 17 

“ Manner of, . 22 

Earache, . 298 

Ear, Inflammation of, . 296 

Ear-Bath, . 169 

Electric-Bath,. 170 

Emetics, . 173 

Enemas, . 173 

Encephalitis, . 272 

Epilepsy, . 304 

Epistaxsis, . 229 















































INDEX, 


369 


Erysipelas, . 

Exercise,. 

External Relations, .. 
Eye, Inflammation of, 
Eye-Bath, . 


Page, 
.. 286 
34-37 
.. 53 
.. 298 
.. 169 


Eats, . 21 

Fermented Liquors, . 27 

Fevers, General Remarks Concerning, . 254 

“ Classification of, . 254 

“ General Causes of, . 259 

“ General Treatment of, . 260 

“ Inflammatory, . 263 

“ Intermittent, . 265 

“ Ague, . 265 

“ Nervous, ... 268 

“ Typhoid, . 268 

Putrid, . 270 

“ Typhus, . 270 

“ Symptomatic, . 271 

“ Brain, . 272 

“ Spotted, . 272 

“ Scarlet, .. 283 

“ Hay, . 317 

Filters, . 15 

Flesh as Food, . 20 

Fomentations,. 163 

Food, Constituents of,. 15 

“ Time of Taking, . 16 

“ Quantity of, . 16 

“ how often to Take, . 17 

“ Kinds of, . 18 

“ of Vegetable Origin, . 19 

“ for Infants, . 22 

“ “ Adults, . 26 


Gall Stones, . 

Ganglia, . 

General Rules for Bathing. 

General Rules for Nursing the Sick, 

Girdle, Wet, . 

Glands, Lachrymal, . 

“ Salivary, . 

“ Tonsils, . 

“ Lymphatic,. 

“ Mesenteric, . 


.. 348 
3, 80 
.. 127 
. 195 
.. 160 
.. 202 
. 202 
,. 202 
. 204 
,. 209 














































370 


INDEX. 


Page. 

. 314 

91, 251 


Goiter, . 

Gout, . 

Habits of Body, . 

Hand Rubbing, . 

Hay Asthma, . 

Haemoptysis, . 

Hsematemesis, . 

Hsematuria, . 

Health, Definition of, . 

“ its Requirements, , 

“ Language of,. 

Heat, . 

“ to the Spine, . 

Headache, . 

Head-Bath, . 

Head-Cap, Wet, . 

Heart Disease, .. 

Hemhorrhage, . 

Hemorrhoids, . 

Hot-Air-Bath,. 

Hot Applications of Water, 

Hot Drinks, . 

Hydrocephalus,. 

Hygienic Agencies, . 

Hygienic Medication, . 

Hypersemia, . 

Hysteria, .. 


42 

178 

317 

230 

231 

232 

5 

6 

213 

7 

124 

295 

1GG 

162 

328 

22G 

345 

174 

122 

27 

291 

G 

197 

224 

305 


Ice to the Spine, .. 

Ileum,. 

Infants, Food for, . 

“ how to Feed, . 

“ Bath for, . 

Inflammation, General, . 

“ Events of, . 

“ Rationale of, .. 

“ Varieties of, . 

“ General Treatment of, 

“ of Brain, . 

“ of the Ear,. 

“ of the Eye, . 

of the Spinal Cord, ... 

of the Tongue, .. 

“ of the Tonsils, .. 

of the Stomach, . 


127 

207 

22 

17 

132 

235 

23G 

238 

239 

240 
289 
298 

298 

299 
308 
311 
332 














































INDEX. 371 

PAGE. 

Inflammation of the Bowels, . 333 

“ of the Kidneys, . 350 

“ of the Bladder, . 351 

“ of the Uterus, . 354 

Intestines,. 207 

Insanity, . 294 

Influenza, . 308 

Itch, . 357 

Juice of Fruit,. 28 

Jejunum, . 207 

Kidneys, . 208 

“ Bleeding from, . 232 

“ Inflammation of, . 350 

Lachrymal Glands, . 202 

“ Ducts, . 202 

Language of Health, . 213 

“ “ Disease, . 215 

Leg-Pack, . 158 

Leg-Bath, . 168 

Leucorrhcea, . 354 

Light, its Use, . 8 

“ Results when Wanting, . 9 

“ Effects on the Sick, . 10 

“ its Benefits, . .. 9 

“ Importance of, . 10 

Liver, . 208 

Local Diseases, . 288 

Lungs, Bleeding from, . 230 

“ Congestion of, . 320 

Lung Fever, . 321 

Lymphatic Glands,. 204 

Mastication,..'.. 22 

Meals, Number of, . 17 

Measles, . 281 

Medicated Baths,. 188 

Mental Influences, . 44 

Menses, Suppression of, . 355 

Milk, . 23 

Mineral Poisons, . 210 

Mineral Springs,. 185 

Mold, how Prevented, . 10 

Mouth, Bad Taste in, . 18 













































372 


INDEX. 


Mouth, Organs of, . .. 
“ Diseases of, ... 

Moral Influences, . 

Movements, Swedish, 

Mud-Baths, . 

Mumps,. 


PAGE. 

202 

308 

40 

179 

183 

310 


Nasal-Bath, ... 
Nerve Centers, 

Neuralgia,. 

Nose-Bleeding, 


1G9 

91 

287 

229 


Obesity, . 

Oils, . 

Oil-Bath, . 

Overeating, Effects of, 

Organs, Internal, . 

“ Language of, . 
Oxygen, its Use, . 


250 
21 
183 
16 
201 
213 
, 28 


Packs, Wet-Sheet, . 

“ Dry, . 

“ Half, . 

“ Leg, . 

“ Chest, . 

Painful Urination, . 

Paralysis, General, . 

“ of the Bladder, 

Pelvic Organs, . 

Pericardium, . 

Perspiration, . 

Piles, . 

Pleurisy, ... 

riethora, . 

Pleura, . 

Plunge-Bath, . 

Pneumonia, .. 

Poisons, . .. 

Positions of the Body, . 


153 

157 

157 

158 
158 
353 
302 
352 

209 

205 
29 

345 

322 

224 

206 
152 
321 

210 
43 


Quotations from Other Authors, .98-112 

Refrigerations, . 170 

Rest, . 36, 37 

Rectum, Bleeding from the, . 232 

Rheumatism, Acute, . 252 











































INDEX. 


373 


PAGE. 


Rheumatism, Chronic, ... 254 

Rickets, . 249 

Rubbing, Dry-Hand, . 178 

“ Wet-Sheet, . 147 

“ Dry-Sheet, . 147 

Rules for Bathing, . 127 

Rules for Nursing the Sick, . 195 


Salivary Glands, . 

“ “ Location of, 

Saliva, Its Use,. 

Sand-Bath, . 

Scalds, . 

Scarlatina, . 

Sciatica, . 

Scrofula, .. 

Sigmoid Flexure, .. 

Skin, Its Functions, . 

“ Diseases of, . 

Sleep, . 

Sleeplessness, . 

Small-Pox, . 

Social Influences, . 

Sore Throat, . 

Spinal Cord, Inflammation of, 

Spotted Fever, . 

Starch, how Used, . 

Stomach, . 

“ Bleeding from, . 

Sugar, how Used, . 

“ when Objectionable, .. 

Sunshine, its Benefits, . 

Sun-Bath, . 

Suppers, Effects of Late, . 

Sweat House, . 

Swedish Movements, . 

Swine-Pox, . 


. 202 

. 204 

22 

182 

.. 358 

. 283 

. 287 

. 244 

. 207 

. 11 

. 357 

. 38 

. 306 

. 275 

. 44 

283, 311, 315 
.. .. 299, 300 

. 272 

. 21 

. 18 

. 231 

. 21 

. 25 

. 9 

. 177 

. 18 

. 184 

. 179 

. 281 


Tartar Emetic,. 81 

Tea, . 27 

Teeth, Decayed, . 309 

Temperature, . 28 

“ how Regulated, . 30 

“ of Baths, . 130 

Throat, Organs of, . 203 

“ Diseases of. 204, 311 














































374 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Thorax, Organs of, . 205 

“ Diseases of, . 205, 319 

Thrush, . 309 

Tonsils, . -02 

“ Inflammation of, . 311 

Tongue, Inflammation of, . 308 

“ Ulceration of, . 308 

Typhoid Fever, . 268 

Typhus Fever, . 270 

Uterus, Bleeding from, . 232 

Uterine Displacements, . 355 

Uterus, Inflammation of, . 354 

Urine, Incontinence of, . 353 

Urination, painful, . 353 

Unknown Diseases, . 360 


Vaccination, . 

Vapor Bath, . 

Variola, . 

Vegetable Poisons, 


280 

175 

275 

210 


Water, its Importance, . 11 

“ Soft and Hard, . 12 

“ Pure Rain, . 14 

“ General Principles of Using, . 115 

“ Hot Applications of, . 122 

“ Cold Applications of, . 122 

“ Drinking, . 172 

“ Emetic,. 173 

Wet-Sheet-Rub,. 147 

“ “ Pack, . 153 

Wet-Girdle, . 160 

Wet-Compress, . 162 

Wet-Head-Cap, . 162 

Whooping-Cough,. 318 

Worms, . 345 






































GLOSSARY. 


A bdomen. The bell v. 

«/ 

Abortion. The expulsion of a foetus before the seventh 
month; miscarriage. 

Abscess. A collection of pus in a cavity. 

Acrid. Sharp, pungent, or bitter. 

Actual Cautery. A red-hot iron for cauterizing or 
burning the flesh. 

Acute. An acute disease is one which, with a certain 
degree of severity, has a rapid progress and short 
duration. 

Adhesive Inflammation. That inflammation which 
causes organs to adhere, or stick together. 

Affusion. The act of pouring out. 

Alteratives. Medicines that change the form of the 
disease. 

Alternate. That which happens by turns. 

Anasarca. General dropsy. 

Anastcimose. To join together by branches. 

Aneurism. A blood tumor caused by stretching the 
coats of an artery. 

Anthelmintic. A worm medicine. 

Antiseptic. That which prevents putrefaction. 

Ascites. Dropsy of the belly. 

Atrophy. Wasting of the flesh. 

Axilla. Armpit. 

Bronchia. The two tubes, and their branches, which 
arise from the branching of the windpipe. 


(375) 



376 


GLOSSARY. 


Calculi. Gravel or stone found in the liver, kidneys, 
and bladder. 

Capsule. A membrane covering an organ. 

Catamenia. The monthly flow of females; the menses. 
Cathartic. A purging medicine. 

Catheter. A tube for drawing oft' the urine. 

Caustic. Any substance that corrodes or burns the 
flesh when applied to it. 

Cerebellum. The hinder and lower part of the brain. 
Cerebrum. The front and upper portion of the brain. 
Chronic. Of long duration. 

Cicatrix. A scar. 

Clyster. An injection; liquid thrown into the intes¬ 
tines. 

Coma, Comatose. Profound sleep. 

Confluent. Running together. 

Constipation. Obstructed bowels. 

Contusion. A bruise. 

Defecation. The act by which the bowels are freed of 
their contents. 

Delirium. Wandering of the mind. 

Depuration. Cleansing from impurities. 

Diagnosis. Distinguishing one disease from another. 
Diaphoretic. Medicines that cause sweating. 

Diathesis. Disposition or constitution of the body. 
Diuretic. A medicine that occasions an increased flow 
of the urine. 

Efflorescence. Eruptions; a rash, or a redness of the 
skin. 

Effluvia. Emanations from substances, as from flow¬ 
ers, or from putrid matter. 

Effusion. The same as Affusion, which see. 
Eliminating. Discharging ; throwing off. 

Emetic. Any substance taken to cause vomiting. 
Emmenagogue. A medicine that occasions increased 
bleeding in connection with the menses. 


G LOSSARY. 


377 


Enema. An injection. 

Enteritis. Inflammation of the intestines. 

Epidemic. A prevalent disease. 

Epigastric. That part of the belly that lies over the 
stomach. 

Exacerbation. An increase of the manifestations of 
the symptoms in a disease. 

Excrescence. A preternatural growth, as a wart. 
Expectoration. To expel from the chest matters col¬ 
lected there. 

Extravasation. The same as Affusion, which see. 
Exudation. Sweating. 

Faces. The contents of the large intestine ; the matter 
discharged from the bowels. 

Fauces. The narrow passage between the mouth and 
throat. 

Febrile. Pertaining to fever. 

Fetid. Having an offensive smell. 

Fcetus. The child while in the womb. 

Filter. A strainer. 

Fistula. A pipe formed from an abscess. 

Flaccid. Soft and weak. 

Flatulency. Wind in the stomach and intestines. 

Flux. An unusual discharge from the bowels. 
Fundament. The bottom; the anus. 

Fungus. A spongy growth; proud flesh. 

Gangrene. Mortification of a part while the body still 
lives. 

Gargle. A wash for the mouth. 

Gastric. Belonging to, or relating to the stomach. 

Hemorrhage. Bleeding; a discharge of blood. 
Hemorrhoids. The piles. 

Hepatic. Pertaining to the liver. 

Hereditary. That which is communicated from parents. 


378 


GLOSSARY. 


Herpes. An eruption of the skin; tetter, ring-worm, 
salt-rheum. 

Hernia. A rupture and protrusion of some part of the 
abdomen. 

Hygiene. The art of preserving the health. 

Idiopathic. Any primary disease is idiopathic. 

Indurated. Hardened. 

Ingestion. Placing within the stomach. 

Ingesta. That which is within the stomach. 

Injection. Liquid thrown into the bowels with a syr¬ 
inge. 


Lethargy. Excessive sleepiness. 

Lesion. A hurt, wound, or disorder. 

Lochia. A bloody and watery discharge, following the 
delivery of a child. 

Lumbago. Rheumatism in the loins or small of the 
back. 

Malaria. Any emanation from sick or dying bodies, 
or from decomposing animal or vegetable sub¬ 
stances. 

Menses. The monthly discharges of females. 

Metastasis. A removal of a disease from one part of 
. .the body to another. 

Micturition. The act of passing water. 

Miasma. Same as Malaria, which see. 

Morbid. Diseased, or relating to disease. 

Morbific. Causing disease. 

Narcotic. A stupefying drug. 

Nausea. Inclination to vomit. 

Omentum. The fatty membrane that covers the in¬ 
testines ; the caul. 

Opthalmia. Inflammation of the eyes. 


GLOSSARY. 


379 


Organic. Composed of organs. 

Osseous. Relating to bones. 

Ova, Ovum, Ovules. Germinal particles ; eggs. 

Ovaries. The organs which produce the ova, or eggs. 

Panacea. A pretended universal remedy. 

Paralysis. A loss of voluntary motion. 

Paroxysm . A periodical fit of a disease. 

Permeate. To pass through the pores. 

Polypus. A tumor that forms on a mucous membrane. 
Prophylactic. A preventive, or a preservative. 
Pulmonary. Relating to the lungs. 

Purulent. That which has the character of pus. 

Pus. The yellow or white matter formed by inflam¬ 
mation, such as is discharged from sores. 

Rectum. The lower part of the large intestine. 
Regimen. The regulation of the diet. 

Resuscitate. To recover from apparent death. 

Saccharine. Having the quality of sugar. 

Saliva. Spittle. 

Sanguine. Bloody ; blood-like. 

Scirrhus. Hard ; knotty ; hard cancer. 

Scorbutic. Pertaining to scurvy. 

Sedentary. Inactive. 

Semen. The fluid secreted by the testicles. 

Serous. Thin ; watery. 

Serum. The watery portion of the blood. 

Stranguary. Extremely difficult and painful urination. 
Stricture. A contracted condition of some tube, duct, 
or passage. 

Suppurate. To form pus. 

Syncope. Sudden and complete fainting. 

Tenesmus. Bearing down ; frequent, vain, and pain¬ 
ful desire to evacuate the bowels. 


380 


GLOSSARY. 


Tonic. Giving strength. 

Torminia. Griping pains in the how els. 

Traction. Gradual, steady pulling. 

Trachea, The windpipe. 

Transpiration. Passage of fluid outward. 

Tubercle. A tumor in the substance of an organ. 
Tumefaction. Swelling. 

Ulcer. An open sore. 

Umbilicus. The navel. 

Ureter. A tube or duct through which urine is con¬ 
veyed from the kidneys to the bladder. 

Urethra. The canal through which the urine passes 
when discharged from the bladder. 

Uterus. The womb ; the organ containing the child 
before its birth. 

Vagina. The canal that leads from the external organs 
of generation to the womb. 

Venery. Sexual intercourse. 

Vertigo. Dizziness. 

Vesication. Raising blisters. 

Vesicle. A small cavity. 

Viscera. The internal organs of the body. 

Viscid. Sticky. 


HEALTH IS HAPPINESS! 


SPREAD AND PRESERVE.*“©8 

BOOKS! REFORMER! INSTITUTE! 


The Hygienic Family Physician. 

This is the title of a work recently published at this 
Office. As the title suggests, it is a work especially de¬ 
signed for family use. The style in which it is written 
is such as to render it perfectly intelligible to all classes, 
as it is quite free from technical terms and phrases which 
are of such frequent occurrence in nearly all books of 
this kind which have previously appeared as to render 
them more or less objectionable. It is, nevertheless, “ a 
complete guide for the preservation of health and the 
treatment of disease without the use of medicine.” 

The work is written in four parts. The subjects treated 
are, in Part I., Health and Plygienic Agents ; Part II., 
Disease and Drugs ; Part III., the Bath; Part IV., Dis¬ 
eases and their Treatment. A more minute description 
of each part is found below. This work is of a thor¬ 
oughly practical nature, and should be in the hands of 
every family in the land, as it affords instruction of the 
most vital importance. Directions for the treatment of 
disease are so plain and minute that any person of ordinary 
intelligence with its assistance may successfully treat nine- 





9 


OUR BOOK LIST. 


tenths of all the cases of disease which occur in any 
neighborhood. The publishers have placed the price so 
low that the book may be obtained by any one who feels 
at all in need of such a work. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Cloth, bound, 
380 pp. Price, post-paid, $1.00. 


The following four pamphlets contain the larger portion 
of the bound work just noticed. They severally corre¬ 
spond with the four parts of the bound volume. 

Good Health, and How to Preserve It. 

In this pamphlet is given a brief treatise on the various 
hygienic agents and conditions which are essential for the 
preservation of health. Just the thing for a person who 
wishes to learn how to avoid disease. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 10 cents. 

Nature and Cause of Disease, and So-called 
“ Action ” of Drugs. 

This work is a clear and comprehensive exposition 
of the nature and true cause of disease, and also ex¬ 
poses the absurdity and falsity of drug medication. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 15 cents. 

The Bath: Its Use and Application. 

This very valuable work contains a full description 
of the various baths employed in the hygienic treat¬ 
ment of disease, together with the manner of apply- 



OUR ROOK LIST. 


o 

O 


ing them, and the diseases to which they are severally 
adapted. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 20 cents. 

The Treatment of Disease. 

In this most important work may be found an 
accurate description of the symptoms and proper treat¬ 
ment of more than one hundred diseases, comprising 
all of those which are susceptible of ordinary home treat¬ 
ment. It is an invaluable work for all who are not pro¬ 
fessionally educated in the theory and practice of medi¬ 
cine. The only remedies recommended are of course 
strictly hygienic in their nature, drugs of every descrip¬ 
tion being entirely discarded as curative agents. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 35 cents. 

—•O* - 

The Hygienic System. 

By P. T. Trall, M. D. 

This important work treats upon the Principles of Hy¬ 
gienic Medication—Hygeio-Therapy—The Essential Na¬ 
ture of Disease—The Modus Operandi of Medicine—The 
Relations of Remedies to Diseases—The Relations of 
Remedies to the Healthy Organs—The Doctrine of Vi¬ 
tality—The Law of Cure—The Problems of Medical 
Science. It should be read by the million. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 15 cents. 





4 


OUR BOOK LIST. 


Health and Diseases of Woman. 

By R. T. Trall, M. D. 

This work treats upon Woman and the Medical Pro¬ 
fession—Opium—Alcohol—Tobacco — Drugs— The Race 
Imperiled—Responsibilities of Parents—American Moth¬ 
ers—Woman’s Disadvantages—The Medical Profession 
vs. Woman—Origin of Many Infirmities—Dress and Res¬ 
piration—Dress and the Sexual Functions—Should Fash¬ 
ionable Women Marry ?—Drugging at Puberty—Scien¬ 
tific Druggery—Scanzoni vs. Churchill—Dr. Prescott on 
Druggery—Drugging in Acute Diseases—Prof. Gilman 
on Puerperal Fever—Drugging During Pregnancy—Drug¬ 
ging During the Lying-in Period—Chronic Drug Disease 
—the Better Way—Tobacco vs. Woman. 

It should be in every family, and be read by every 
woman and every girl in the land. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 15 cents. 

Tobacco-Using. 

By R. T. Trall, M. D. 

This is a Philosophical Exposition of the Effects of To¬ 
bacco on the Human System. Published at the Health 
Reformer Office. Price, post-paid, 15 cents. 

-»o+ - 

Science of Human Life. 

_ / 

This is a pamphlet of great value, containing three of 
the most important of Graham’s Lectures on the Science 
of Human Life. It is published for the benefit of those 
who may not feel able to purchase the entire work, and 
contains most of that work which is of practical value 
to the reading public. 









OUR BOOK LIST. 


5 


Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 35 cents. 


Hand P>ook of Health. 

This work treats upon Physiology and Hygiene. 
Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, bound in cloth, CO cents ; in paper cover* 35 cents. 


Cook Book, or Kitchen Guide. 

This work comprises recipes for the preparation of 
hygienic food, directions for canning fruit, &c., together 
with advice relative to change of diet. 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, 20 cents. 

■- + 0 * - 

EXHAUSTED VITALITY; 

Or, a Solemn Appeal Relative to Solitary Vice, and the 
Abuses and Excesses of the Marriage Relation. We do 
not hesitate to say that this is the best work of the kind 
now in print in our country. It is gathered chiefly from 
the writings of the ablest and best writers upon the sub¬ 
ject. Of this subject, and this work, the compiler in his 

preface says :— 

“ It is disagreeable to call attention to those sins of 
youth, and the abuses and excesses, even in the married 
life, which are ruining the souls and bodies of tens of thou¬ 
sands ; especially so, while feelings of great delicacy, rel¬ 
ative to the subject, exist in the public mind. But dis¬ 
agreeable though the task may be, facts, terriole facts of 
every-day observation, fully justify a solemn and faithful 
warning'to all. We would cherish the profoundest re¬ 
spect for the delicate feelings of the truly modest and 
the really virtuous ; but we confess our want of respect 
for that false delicacy in many which takes fright at the 










6 


OUR BOOK LIST. 


mention of those vices, in consequence of which, they 
themselves exhibit evident marks of rapid decay. 

“ The reader may as well prepare at the first, by laying 
aside feelings of false delicacy, if he is troubled with them, 
to be benefited by the painful facts, plainly stated in this 
work. The real value of the lengthy article on 

“ CHASTITY ” 

Cannot be estimated by dollars and cents. Every youth 
in the land should read it. And not only the youth, but 
every parent and guardian, should study it well, and be 
prepared in a proper way to warn those children under 
their immediate care. And let every mother be stirred 
by the article under the caption of 

“APPEAL TO MOTHERS.” 

It comes from a mother’s heart—from one who has had 
experience in laboring for the unfortunate victims of se¬ 
cret vice, and is imbued with the importance of the sub¬ 
ject. The extracts entitled 

“EVILS AND REMEDY,” 

Although unvailing many dark pictures, are entitled to 
consideration as the utterances of one whose extensive 
study of human nature has qualified him to speak to the 
point on this important subject.” 

Published at the Health Reformer Office. Price, post¬ 
paid, bound in cloth, 60 cents ; in paper cover, 30 cents. 

- 8 <>)- 

THREE-CENT TRACTS. 

The following tracts are offered, post-paid, for three 
cents each, or two dollars per hundred. This list of 
tracts will be greatly increased. 

Dyspepsia : Its Causes, Prevention, and Cure. 

The Dress Reform: Containing reasons for the most 
Healthful, most Modest, and most Convenient Style of 
Woman’s Dress. 

lhe Principles of Health Reform: Important to 
those whose minds should be called to first principles. 




THE HEALTH REFORMER. 


This is a monthly journal devoted to physical, mental, 
and moral culture. 


ITS MISSION. 

As indicated in the prospectus, its mission is to con¬ 
tribute to the improvement of mankind physically, men¬ 
tally, and morally. Of the necessity for reform in these 
particulars, we need not speak; for the alarming evi¬ 
dences of physical degeneracy and disease, mental ineffi¬ 
ciency, and moral turpitude, which we see about us on 
every hand, speak more loudly than can words of the cry¬ 
ing need of immediate and thorough reformation. 

Progression is the spirit of the times. Social reform, 
prison reform, civil service reform, and various other re¬ 
forms, each in its turn, calls for the careful and candid 
consideration and hearty co-operation of every intelligent 
man and woman. And very just and appropriate is this 
demand; for nothing can be more promotive of the in¬ 
terests of society than improvement—progression— re¬ 
form. Without this, stagnation would result, and civili¬ 
zation would soon degenerate into the veriest barbarism. 
Its value, then, cannot be overestimated; and every truly 
reformatory movement should receive our most serious 
and attentive consideration. 

As its name would suggest, the Health Reformer 



8 


THE HEALTH REFORMER. 


is published in the interest of a reformation which has a 
special hearing upon health; health—physical, mental, 
and moral. Perfect physical development, clear mental 
faculties, and acute moral sensibilities, constitute the per¬ 
fection of manhood or womanhood. Can there be any¬ 
thing more important, then, than a reform which aims to 
secure these three conditions, which, when attained, will 
place a person in that state of perfection which will en¬ 
able him to realize the highest degree of enjoyment pos¬ 
sible for man to experience? May we not justly claim 
that, while the reforms which have been mentioned are 
of great moment and absorbing interest, they are all 
eclipsed by the fir greater importance of this reform 
which deals with those principles which underlie the 
whole superstructure of moral and social life, and which 
strike at the very root of all the evils which curse society, 
and rest like a mighty incubus upon the world ? 

PLAN OF ACTION. 

In order to accomplish the desired object, which has 
already been set forth, the conductors of the Reformer 
have adopted this as a fundamental principle of action: 
Physical reform is the basis of all reform. The truth 
of this principle is evident when we consider, 

1. The intimate relation of mind and matter, and the 
wonderful manner in which the mind is affected by the 
varying conditions of the body; so that whenever the 
body suffers from serious injury of any kind, the mind 
is correspondingly impaired, as is seen in the fever 
patient raving in the wildness of delirium. 


THE HEALTH REFORMER. 


9 


2. The fact that the condition of a person’s moral or¬ 
gans depends so largely upon that of the body and mind ; 
as is illustrated by the victim of despair who labors under 
the impression that his doom is sealed, when his only 
difficulty is a torpid liver ; or the irritable, misanthropic 
dyspeptic, whose unhappy mental condition is wholly due 
to a disordered stomach. 

In view of these facts, it appears that the most im¬ 
portant branch of the work of the Reformer is in the 
direction of physical improvement and reform, since 
the success of each of the other branches is contingent 
upon the success of this. 

But while constantly aiming at reform, and so con¬ 
tending against adverse and opposing influences, the con¬ 
ductors of the Reformer are careful to avoid those ex¬ 
tremes into which so many reformers allow themselves, 
unwittingly, perhaps, to be led. They also ever seek to 
manifest that liberality of sentiment which is in harmony 
with the spirit of the present time, when every man is 
expected and urged to think and form opinions for him¬ 
self. By so doing, they hope to incite a spirit of investi¬ 
gation, which, when pursued with candor and an unbiased 
judgment, can hardly fail to convince the reader of the 
truth of the positions taken. 

Those who conduct the Reformer endeavor to fill 
its columns with matter of practical importance and inter¬ 
est to every subscriber. Thorough instruction is given 
in regard to these two most important subjects, 


10 


THE HEALTH REFORMER. 


HOW TO RECOVER HEALTH, AND HOW 
TO RETAIN IT, 

These subjects being treated by those whose personal ex¬ 
perience enables them to speak understandingly. In fact, 
we put forth every effort to make the Reformer indis¬ 
pensable to every household , and of especial interest to 
that exceedingly large and unfortunate class of individ¬ 
uals who have been brought into the condition of inva¬ 
lids by disease. But the subject of health, proper, b}^ 
no means receives exclusive attention. Considerable 
space is each month devoted to general literature, impor¬ 
tant and interesting discoveries in the arts and sciences, 
and such other subjects as are of general interest. 

PRESENT PROSPECTS. 

Notwithstanding the numerous and almost insurmount¬ 
able obstacles with which it has been obliged to contend, 
the Reformer has made constant and rapid progress in 
extending its sphere of usefulness, until it is now estab¬ 
lished upon a firm and satisfactory basis, being furnished 
with an able corps of contributors, numbering its patrons 
by thousands throughout the United States and Terri¬ 
tories. 

The publishers of this journal are actuated by purely 
philanthropic motives, and hence offer it at such terms 
as will enable every person to obtain it who has any de¬ 
gree of interest in the important subjects, How to GET 
WELL and now to KEEP WELL. Terms, 81.00 a 
year, in advance. Specimen copies sent free on application. 
Address, Health Reformer, Battle Creek , Mich. 


THE HEALTH INSTITUTE. 


LOCATION. 

This model health institution is situated in the most 
healthful and delightful part of the proverbially neat and 
enterprising city of Battle Creek, Michigan, an impor¬ 
tant station on the Michigan Central 11. R., about half 
way between Chicago and Detroit. Several railroads 
intersect at this point, making it easy of access from all 
directions. 

GROUNDS. 

The grounds arc ample, consisting of a site of about 
twenty acres, a large portion of which is covered with 
shade, ornamental, and fruit trees. They arc also high, 
overlooking the entire city, and affording a line view of 
the landscape for miles around. 

The soil is of such a nature that mud is almost en¬ 
tirely unknown, a few hours of sunshine after a rain 
rendering the walks and roads in and about the grounds 
so free from dampness that the most delicate invalid may 
indulge freely in the benefits of out-of-door life and ex¬ 
ercise. 

In front of the main building, and between it and the 
road, is a beautiful grove, which extends along the street 
in each direction from it, some thirty rods, affording a 



12 


THE HEALTH INSTITUTE. 


delightful place of resort during the summer months. 
The grove is also provided with such means of exercise 
and recreation as are both healthful and entertaining ; as 
croquet grounds, conveniences for gymnastic exercises, 
etc. 

BUILDINGS. 

These comprise a large main building, and seven fine 
cottages, all situated upon the same site. The main 
building contains commodious parlors, dining halls, bath 
and movement rooms, etc., etc., while the other buildings 
are fitted up as private apartments for patients. By this 
means are secured that quiet and retirement which are of 
such paramount importance to the invalid, and which 
cannot be obtained in an institution where scores of suf¬ 
fering individuals are crowded together under one roof. 

ROOMS 

Are large and well ventilated, and are furnished much 
better than in any other institution of the kind, thus af¬ 
fording the patient all the luxuries and comforts which 
he enjoys at home, and many more. 

PLAN OF TREATMENT. 

At this institution diseases are treated on strictly hy¬ 
gienic principles; that is, only those remedies are em¬ 
ployed which will assist nature in her healing work, and 
will in no way endanger the life or constitution of the 
patient. Drugs and poisons of every description are en¬ 
tirely discarded as curative agents ; but all known means 


THE HEALTH INSTITUTE. 


13 


of restoring health are constantly employed, poisons alone 
being excluded from our materia medica. 

OUR REMEDIES 

Then are Light, Water, Air, Electricity, Exercise, Cheer¬ 
fulness, Rest, Sleep, Proper Clothing, Proper Food, and, 
in fact, all Hygienic and Sanitary Agents. 

OUR PHYSICIANS. 

The medical faculty of the institution is composed of 
an adequate number of conscientious, watchful and effi¬ 
cient physicians, who give personal and unremitting care 
and attention to their patients, anticipating, as far as pos¬ 
sible, their wants, carefully studying their cases, and ap¬ 
plying every means in their power to restore them to 
health. 


OUR FACILITIES. 

Very few institutions are provided with conveniences 
and advantages equal to ours. Our bath rooms are both 
capacious and convenient, and are furnished with an in¬ 
exhaustible supply of pure, soft water. Several rooms 
are also prepared especially for the administration of the 
Sun-Bath. 

SPECIAL ADVANTAGES. 

In addition to the appliances usually employed in such 
institutions, we make use of the Hot-Air Bath (which 
possesses all the virtues of the Turkish-Bath, while avoid- 


14 


THE HEALTH INSTITUTE. 


ing its evils), the much-renowned Electric or Electro- 
Thermal-Bath, the Lift Cure, and the celebrated Swed¬ 
ish Movement Cure, which are so successful in many 
cases which cannot be reached by other means. 

DIET. 

While we reject from our dietary those pernicious 
drinks and condiments which are the potent agents in 
bringing thousands to untimely graves, we take care to 
supply our table with an abundance of nutritious and 
palatable food, consisting of fruits, grains, and vegetables. 
We do not enforce, however, a radical and immediate 
change from old habits, but give the patient time to ac¬ 
commodate himself to the new diet. 

OUR SUCCESS. 

The class of individuals who seek aid at our institution 
is very largely composed of those who are afflicted with 
chronic diseases, and who have been drugged and poi¬ 
soned until their vitality has become well-nigh exhausted, 
and they are given up by their friends and medical ad¬ 
visers to die. Under these circumstances, they come to 
us as a final resort, and, thanks to a true and potent 
system of treatment, this last hope is seldom disappoint¬ 
ed. Among the hundreds who have thus come to us and 
found relief from their ills and pains, during the eight 
years since the establishment of this institution, the fol¬ 
lowing cases, here briefly reported, have been treated 
within the last few months :— 


THE HEALTH INSTITUTE. 


15 


CONSUMPTION. 

Many cases might be cited, and references given, in 
which this most insidious and hopeless of all diseases has 
been robbed of its victims and a new lease of life given 
them by a few months’ stay with us. 

DYSPEPSIA. 

Hundreds have come to us afflicted with this most de¬ 
plorable disease in its most aggravated forms, and, after 
staying a proper time, have returned to their friends re¬ 
lieved of their sufferings. 

PARALYSIS. 

Even this formidable disease is, in many cases, treated 
with entire success, the use of paralyzed organs being 
wholly restored. 

DROPSY. 

In one case, the patient came to the Institute after 
having been given up to die by friends and physicians. 
He had been tapped many times, as the accumulation of 
fluid was so rapid that respiration was rendered ex¬ 
tremely difficult in a few days. Cured in a few months, 
and reports himself still in good health. 

SCROFULA. 

Many cases of scrofula, often complicated with dys¬ 
pepsia, affections of the lungs, etc., have been treated 
with marked success. In one case, the patient had sev- 


16 


THE HEALTH INSTITUTE. 


eral large tumors, one nearly as large as an ordinary 
bowl. After a few weeks’ treatment, nature began the 
curative work of absorption, thus effecting a cure. This 
case bad been considered entirely hopeless. 

But space will not allow further description of the 
desperate cases which have received treatment and resto¬ 
ration at this institution; but w T e may add that equally 
good success has attended the treatment of Asthma, 
Kidney Difficulties (of the worst forms), Chronic Diar¬ 
rhea, Chronic Congestion of the Brain, Cancer, Palpita¬ 
tion of the Heart, Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Epilepsy, 
Bronchitis, Piles, Ulceration of Bowels, Catarrh of Blad¬ 
der and Bowels, Constipation (in some cases without a 
natural passage for many years), Spermatorrhea, and, in 
fact, Chronic Diseases of all kinds. 

The most flattering success has attended the treatment 
of Uterine Difficulties, and all other Diseases of Women, 
which receive special attention. 


ACUTE DISEASES. 


Our mode of treatment is specially adapted to this 
class of diseases, meeting with the most uniform success 
with Fevers and Inflammations of every type and form, 
all Eruptive Diseases, etc., etc. 

To the sick, we say, Do not delay seeking our assist¬ 
ance until your case is hopeless. Write at once for our 
Circular, which will be sent free on application. 


Address 


HEALTH INSTITUTE, 

Battle Creek ., Mich. 


















































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